Rice key in Arsenal bid to win fight for control over chaos

IT MAY only be early February, but Sunday’s showdown with Liverpool feels season-defining for Arsenal.

- Simon Collings

Win and the Gunners will move within two points off Jurgen Klopp’s leaders, while victory would also fuel belief that this can be their year.

Defeat, on the other hand, would leave them eight points adrift and facing a mountain to climb in the title race.

Even a draw might not be enough against a Liverpool side who do not look like dropping too many points as they bid to give Klopp a perfect send-off, and with Manchester City starting to look good — with Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne fit again.

Arsenal are out to make a statement and do go into the game with momentum after getting their season back on track with back-to-back wins, against Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest.

Liverpool will be missing the injured Mohamed Salah, who has tormented Arsenal in the past, but they looked unstoppable in their 4-1 dismantling of Chelsea on Wednesday.

In Salah’s absence, other players have stepped up and there is an element of chaos about the Liverpool attack right now, thanks largely to Darwin Nunez.