Saturday 's game is absolutely huge for both teams . Win and Arsenal go second to put huge pressure on Manchester City . Lose and Liverpool will be nine points behind Arsene Wenger ’ s side . It ’ s a vital match and here ’ s where the game can be won and lost . OLIVIER GIROUD v KOLO TOURE/MAMADOU SAKHO . With no Martin Skrtel , Olivier Giroud will be licking his lips . Kolo Toure and Mamadou Sakho are both solid enough but they are nervous in possession and they will miss the experience and physicality of Skrtel . If Dejan Lovren is fit , I expect him to play , but if not , don ’ t be surprised if Giroud gets on the scoresheet . The Frenchman is in excellent form this season but the only question mark against him was does he score enough in the big games ? So far in this campaign , he has scored against Manchester United , City and Liverpool . He will want to continue that run on Saturday . Martin Skrtel ( centre ) misses the trip to Arsenal after getting a three-game ban for stamping on David de Gea . Kolo Toure ( centre ) and Mamadou Sakho ( right ) are in contention to replace Skrtel for Saturday 's clash . Whichever defender plays , they are in for a tough afternoon against in-form Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud . PER MERTESACKER v DANIEL STURRIDGE . I ’ ve lost count of the number of times I have covered Arsenal games and wondered how Per Mertesacker does it . It always amazes me that teams don ’ t try and get pacey players in and around him more often . He ’ s never been blessed with speed and playing a high line can cause him problems , but he has a World Cup medal to his name , so he must be doing something right . His partner Laurent Koscielny is much more mobile , so a fit-again Daniel Sturridge as well as Raheem Sterling and Philippe Coutinho will hope to exploit Mertesacker ’ s side of the defence . Germany World Cup-winner Per Mertesacker ( right ) is expected line-up in defence for Arsenal . However , Mertesacker 's lack of pace could be exposed if Daniel Sturridge ( right ) is fit to start for Liverpool . AARON RAMSEY vs JORDAN HENDERSON . This time last year if you asked people who they would rather have in their team , it would be Aaron Ramsey all day long . But Jordan Henderson has come so far it is now a 50-50 call . These are the midfield marathon men and whoever wins this battle in the engine room should end up on the winning side . Ramsey can grab a goal , and Liverpool will have to watch his runs into the box , but Henderson will press hard and make sure Ramsey and the likes of Mesut Ozil and Santi Cazorla have no room to breathe . Arsenal 's Aaron Ramsey ( left ) midfield battle with Liverpool 's Jordan Henderson should prove a close affair .
Arsenal host Liverpool in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon . The Gunners have won their last three games against Liverpool, drawing all of them and losing just once - a 1-0 win at Anfield back in October 2013.