Alex Song has been suffering with a calf problem and Arsene originally said that Song would be short for the Liverpool game, but he later claimed that Song would be training with the squad and would be assessed

I don’t know about you, but I have been itching for this day to arrive, now it is here I have those pre match emotions of excitement and nerves, jumbling around in my stomach.

It always feels a little strange when the season kicks off without us and then the wait from Saturday to Sunday seems to be much longer than usual. While Chelsea strolled to a 6-0 home victory against newly promoted West Brom and Manchester United have a nice home game against Newcastle on Monday, who are also newly promoted. It it an altogether different proposition for Arsenal. Liverpool at Anfield is one of the fixtures you would have thrown directly into the dustbin, if you were asked to choose the perfect opening fixture.

Our usually familiar opposition are not so familiar today as Roy Hodgson is set to implement his changes to his new team along with his new signings.

Arsenal also provide an air of unpredictability to Liverpool and ourselves for that matter. Wenger has had a list of players carrying knocks or players that have not had enough match practice. Those players will have been working at London colny to get to the required level. Arsene will know which players are ready and which ones are not.

The biggest question mark remains in our strongest area of the pitch, our center of midfield.

Cesc Fabregas has not taken part in any of our pre season games yet got 45 minutes for Spain under his belt in Mexico. But does the travelling to Mexico and the lack of sharpness exclude him from the starting line up?

Alex Song has been suffering with a calf problem and Arsene originally said that Song would be short for the Liverpool game, but he later claimed that Song would be training with the squad and would be assessed. You would imagine that if Song is over his injury but is short of match sharpness then he will start the game. If Song does not make it then Wenger has three choices, one 18 year old in Frimpong who has plenty of fitness and sharpness from the pre season but lacks experience or Denilson who hasn’t had a kick in pre season or Abou Diaby which I would imagine would be a last choice option in that holding role.

There are so many combinations that could start the game, so we will have to wait and see. Robin Van Persie has not played any international football since the world cup and has been training so it will be interesting to see if and where Robin ends up. With Chamakh in good form and looking like a good focal point for the side a safe bet might be to keep Van Persie on the bench with a break open in emergency sticker on his forehead for the second half.

I am looking forward to watching man of the moment Samir Nasri strutting his stuff on the large Anfield pitch, I assume that where he plays depends on what the manager does with Cesc. Hopefully he will get his chance in the attacking midfield spot, the position where he has shone during all of the pre season.

All eyes will be on the goalkeeping position. With strong rumours doing the rounds that Mark Schwarzer will be joining us before the transfer window closes, I would be surprised to see Manuel Almunia start the game. Personally I hope Almunia takes the gloves as he is the more assured choice at this moment in time. In many respects it is not as important who starts in goal it will be his protection from the players ahead of him that will make a difference.

Mean Lean’s Predicted Line Up

Arsene Wenger has said that he plans to work on making us a better defensive unit, we will get the chance to see it in our first competitive game of the season. I suspect that the players will be turning back the clock to the beginning of last season when we worked hard from the front, not allowing the opposition time to breathe. This will inevitably take the pressure off the defence and consequently, the goalkeeper.

Andrey Arshavin has had a great time at Anfield during his short Arsenal career, another wonder strike would be great but I would settle for a hard working, inventive performance from our number 23. I thought that Emmanuel Eboue would have a good chance of starting on the right side of the front three but after Theo Walcott’s impressive 45 minutes for England and it being the start of the season I think Wenger will show faith in the speedster and let him have a go at the Liverpool left back.

I am intrigued to know if Liverpool will drop their conservative approach for a more expansive game, maybe this will be the case in time, but perhaps not against Arsenal. Steven Gerrard may continue his free role in the Liverpool engine room in the Liverpool side with Joe Cole being allowed to come into the middle from wide areas.

Torres should he start will be an interesting test for Vermaelen if he is fit enough to start. Koscielny and Clichy will be pinching the ball from Liverpool and starting swift attacks. Liverpool will start with a high tempo and look to impose themselves on set pieces. Expect plenty of that this season. It should all make for a very interesting spectacle.

Mean Lean’s Match Prediction

It is the start of the season, we have a clean slate, if you cannot be optimistic now then you can never be. We have goals in us, everyone knows that. We can stop goals if we work from the front and prevent Liverpool creating chances. I want Vermaelen to organise and lead our defence, we have plenty of physical power in midfield, even if 18 year old Frimpong is given the chance to start. In attack we have a fantastic array of talent.

Let the games begin.

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