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Saliba And Smith Rowe Start, No Tierney - The Team Arsenal Fans Want To See Vs Liverpool


Arsenal face Liverpool in the traditional new season curtain-raiser on Saturday afternoon.

The Gunners' reward for winning the FA Cup is a meeting with last season's Premier League champions and the two rivals will do battle at Wembley Stadium with the Community Shield trophy on the line.

For head coach Mikel Arteta, it's another chance to get a look at his side in a game that comes 28 days after beating Chelsea in the FA Cup final.

Although, the Spaniard has dismissed concerns regarding it being mentally tough to start a season three weeks after the end of the last one.

"It's not hard because we really like our job and we have the privilege to work in this industry but we needed time to reflect on what we did," Arteta said during his pre-match press conference on Thursday. "As well to put our minds a little bit away from football.

"I think we have the chance to do it not as we normally do, but enough, and the players seem in good condition mentally and physically so we are ready to go.

"We have no choice, we have a cup to play on Saturday.

"We've had two training sessions so you can imagine this game comes in the middle of our mini-pre-season but we haven't had much time to lose the condition.

"It's not an ideal moment to play this final but the players are motivated, it's another opportunity to win a trophy and we will go for it."

Ahead of the game at Wembley Stadium, football.london offered fans the chance to step into Arteta's shoes and pick the team to take on the Premier League champions.

Supporters were asked who they'd like to start the game against Liverpool and those who responded have urged the Spanish tactician to spring at least one surprise.

Fans want the fit-again Bernd Leno to reclaim his place in goal instead of Emiliano Martinez - who was in between the sticks for the FA Cup final and impressed many during the German's spell on the sidelines.

In front of him, fans are hoping one change to the back three which started against the Blues with William Saliba coming in for Kieran Tierney who is surprisingly left out of this fan-picked team.

The midfield four is slightly altered from the last competitive outing, with the one change being Emile Smith Rowe coming in for Dani Ceballos who has returned to Real Madrid.

Keeping faith in the front three that started the pre-season friendly win over MK Dons is the popular choice amongst supporters.

Not only have fans called for Bukayo Saka to start ahead of club record signing Nicolas Pepe, they want Alexandre Eddie Nketiah to get the nod over Alexandre Lacazette and last season's top-scorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to start on the left.

Arsenal XI: Leno; Saliba, Luiz, Holding; Bellerin, Smith Rowe, Xhaka, Maitland-Niles; Saka, Nketiah, Aubameyang


 READ ALSO: Houssem Aouar Delivers Cryptic Response When Asked About Arsenal Transfer Links

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