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Robert Warlow & Tashan Deniran-Alleyne & Art De Roche

Xhaka out, Holding and Willock back in: How Unai Emery should line Arsenal up to face Liverpool

Arsenal face a second trip of the season to Anfield to face Liverpool this week.

The Gunners are in Carabao Cup action against the Reds on Wednesday night, with Arsenal looking to make it through to the quarter-finals of the competition.

However, they face a tough test against Jurgen Klopp's men, who sit six points clear at the top of the Premier League table.

Liverpool have already beaten Arsenal once at Anfield this season, with the Reds winning 3-1 back in August.

But can Unai Emery's men avoid a second defeat on Merseyside? And who should the Arsenal boss pick to face the Reds?

We take a look at how we at football.london think he should set the team up to face Liverpool on Wednesday night.

Art de Roche - Arsenal writer

Liverpool away has come at the worst time possible for Unai Emery which should push him to start choosing more attacking teams.

Although the Spaniard may want to plan ahead to Wolves in the Premier League, he won't be able to rotate his midfield and attack much in order to stay in the game.

In his first trip to Anfield this season, Emery used a midfield diamond which allowed Liverpool to exploit the wide areas.

Arsenal assistant coach Freddie Ljungberg with Joe Willock (Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Unlikely to return to this system, I think moving away from the usual 4-3-3 may work well. Instead, Use Lucas Torreira and Joe Willock alongside each other for greater midfield support and allow Dani Ceballos to create further forward.

Gabriel Martinelli has done nothing to deserve being dropped in the cup competitions and alongside his goals, has shown hunger in his performances. If things aren't going well then Nicolas Pepe can be called upon to turn the game around.

Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang aren't quite firing like they were last season so getting more game time between the pair can only help with that.

Granit Xhaka shouldn't be considered for selection after his antics against Crystal Palace.

Art's team: Martinez; Bellerin, Mustafi, Holding, Kolasinac; Torreira, Willock; Martinelli, Ceballos, Aubameyang; Lacazette

Tashan Deniran-Alleyne - Live writer and Arsenal fan

It may be the Carabao Cup, it may be a competition that's not too high on Unai Emery's priority list, but it's Liverpool away from home. And Emery really needs a result. Especially on the road against a top team.

Saturday's game against Wolves is going to be huge which does leave the Spaniard in a rather difficult position in terms of team selection at Anfield as he will have to rotate.

But he can't afford to make wholesale changes from the Crystal Palace draw, risk a heavy defeat and create an even bigger divide between himself and the majority of supporters.

With that said, it's worth starting all three of Nicolas Pepe, Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang just to give Liverpool something to think about and more importantly let them forge an understanding.

Granit Xhaka shouldn't be considered for action, nor should Dani Ceballos who admitted he struggled to cope with Liverpool's pressing game so Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi in midfield is worth a try as is playing Joe Willock in his normal box-to-box role.

Tashan's team: (4-3-3) Martinez; Bellerin, Sokratis, Holding, Kolasinac; Torreira, Guendouzi, Willock; Pepe, Lacazette, Aubameyang

Arsenal 2-2 Crystal Palace: Unai Emery press conference in full

Robert Warlow - Production editor

After throwing away a two-goal lead against Crystal Palace, Arsenal fans will want a response.

But a trip to Anfield is not what you would want as your next fixture after a disappointment, even if it is a cup fixture.

It is difficult to know how strong a line-up the Gunners will be facing, but Jurgen Klopp has many options at his disposal, and even though he is unlikely to field as young a side as he did in the previous round against MK Dons, he could well give opportunities to some young players among some more experienced stars.

For Emery, he cannot really afford to play a much-changed side, because the Carabao Cup is still a realistic aim for a trophy for the Gunners.

If they can beat Liverpool, with Chelsea facing Manchester United and Tottenham already out, the draw could open up for them.

As such, he should field a strong side for this game, with the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Nicolas Pepe involved.

Alexandre Lacazette still looks short of fitness after his return from injury, and might be a good option from the bench.

But one player who needs to be kept out of the spotlight is Granit Xhaka, and Emery should give the captain the night off, after his exchange with supporters during the game against Crystal Palace.

Expect a few youngsters to feature, but for Emery to field a strong side.

Robert's team: (4-3-2-1): Martinez, Bellerin, Sokratis, Holding, Kolasinac; Torreira, Guendouzi, Willock; Pepe, Martinelli, Aubameyang.

We've picked ours. Now it is your turn to pick who you think should start at Anfield.

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