Theo will answer his critics against Liverpool

After a season in which our lads achieved their best finish since 2004-05, it's strange but also all too familiar to fret about our chances going into 2016-17. Despite pipping Tottenham to finish behind Leicester in a legendary season, the same qualms and doubts persist. With Guardiola and Mourinho to contend with, it's anyone's guess whether we have what it takes to stay in the top four, much less replicate last season's theatrics. Sunday sees us kick off the season against Liverpool—but we're already in mid-season form, at least as far as injuries go. What are we in for?

At Liverpool's end, they continue to treat Southampton as their own academy, having signed Sadio Mané to bolster their attack (and Georginio Wijnaldum from Newcastle), but their real trouble from last season stemmed from injuries and a porous defense. There was once a time when Simon Mignolet was rated among the better keepers in the Prem. Then again, Liverpool might add through subtraction—the departures of Kolo Touré and Martin Škrtel might deprive the Keystone Klopps of a fair amount of experience in the backline, but those same departures allow Klopp to deploy shinier, newer models. Long story short, there should still be enough unfamiliarity and uncertainty in this defense for Arsenal to take advantage.

At our end, however, there's enough to wring one's hands already. Injuries to Mertesacker, Gabriel, and Koscielny may force us into some unfamiliar setups of our own. New man Rob Holding could make his Prem debut, perhaps pairing with Calum Chambers. Whether this inspires a Harry Potter book title—The Holding Chambers Dilemma?—is an open question. More likely, we'll see Monreal slot over to centre-back with Holding or Chambers to provide some experience and spine, giving Gibbs a chance at left-back.

Perhaps more-enticing, we should see Xhaka play alongside Cazorla (newly minted deputy captain) in the defensive midfield, which should offer the Spaniard enough defensive support to orchestrate the attack. With Giroud also laid low, a front line of Iwobi, Walcott, and Alexis should give Cazorla plenty to of opportunities to unlock Liverpool's unsettled defence. If that's not enough, Aaron Ramsey could get a run-out as our central attacking midfielder, a position/role he clearly craves (and could very well excel at...).

We should have more than enough to hold off Liverpool's attack; whether we can put a few past their defense should be the real question. It's one thing, after all, to score eight times against Viking FK; facing Liverpool—even a diminished Liverpool—should bring us back to reality.

FACTFILE

• Arsenal have not lost at home to Liverpool in 19 of our last 20 matches across all competitions.
• Arsenal have scored at least two goals in eight of our last ten matches against Liverpool across all competitions.
• The two clubs first clashed in 1893, a 2-0 win for Liverpool.

INJURIES

Koscielny, Giroud, Mertesacker, Gabriel, Jenkinson, Wilshere, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Welbeck, and Özil have all been ruled out.

POSSIBLE STARTING XI

Čech; Gibbs, Monreal, Chambers, Bellerín; Xhaka, Cazorla; Iwobi, Ramsey, Alexis; Walcott. 

Walcott, leading the line, will finally answer his critics and prove that he can play through the middle.

GOONERSPHERE'S PREDICTION

Arsenal 2-0 Liverpool.

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