With nine rounds of fixtures remaining, Arsenal's Premier League title glory seems to be within reach, however, I know that this week's clash with Manchester City will be a major test on their road ahead.
Despite Liverpool's poor record on the road, their home record is as good as it gets. Looking back on my playing career, whenever I walk into the tunnel, see the "Anfield" logo and listen to the fans' enthusiastic cheering, I can deeply feel the club's glorious past. If you are not fully prepared, you should not step into the stadium.
Arsenal have won the last 7 rounds of league matches and have the best away record in the Premier League. With the strong return of Gabil Jecsis, who scored twice in the last round, his positioning and cooperation with his teammates is expected to create problems for the Liverpool defense. At the same time, I believe that he and Sim Jungkol can inspire their teammates, who have experienced these crucial battles and know how to cope with the pressure.
However, the absence of William Shaliba has had a profound effect on the team, as he is a solid bulwark in the backline. Although Lok Heading has been playing well, he is still not as good as William Salemba and will be under pressure against Liverpool's forward pack. This match will be crucial for midfielders Gleshaga and Thomas Berdy, who will have to guard the defense well to prevent Liverpool's versatile forwards from finding a breakthrough.
Nonetheless, I think Arsenal will struggle to completely shut down the Reds' front line for the full 90 minutes, and frankly, I'm predicting a Liverpool win over Arsenal, which might open the door for City to win the title.
