Arsenal can play expansive football from the kick-off tomorrow evening. The away goals rule means that, realistically, it won’t matter a lot if they take risks and concede one. Liverpool are ahead already, Arsenal need to score. Those two facts should shape Arsenal’s approach.

If the Gunners do get one, then the difference between letting one or none in themselves is the difference between playing extra time and going through after 90 minutes. In the former scenario, it will be Liverpool who are jumpy as a second away goal would really put Arsenal in the driving seat.

Of course, they can’t be reckless. They don’t want to find themselves two down on the night, as needing to score two goals against a Benitez’ team solely intent on defending is not a good situation.

Arsenal have created enough chances in the first two games of the trilogy to have convinced that they can score at Anfield, and over recent years, their general record there is good, with a couple of aberrations we won’t dwell upon. Certainly there are grounds for optimism.

Of course in defence, things aren’t all going to plan, and a much-improved performance is required. It will be interesting to see if Wenger moves Toure to full back again and re-introduces Senderos. The only feasible alternative would be to play Eboue in defence. Gilberto’s role on Saturday, sitting in front of the back four seemed a ploy to deal with Peter Crouch’s knockdowns more than anything, a factor unlikely to count at Anfield unless Liverpool find themselves needing a goal in the last thirty minutes.

Anyhow, the bottom line is this. Arsenal can play their natural attacking game and would probably be best served doing just that. Frankly, with the home team unlikely to be allowing a lot of space in their own half, a cautious approach would seem pointless given the standing of the tie. Some big performances will be required, along with a bit of luck. Wenger does have the players to produce, the big question is how much is left in the tank. Looking at some of the players on Saturday though, I accept that is something of a worry.

There is no point in going over old ground about the depth of the squad now. That’s for the summer. Wenger’s best chance of a trophy now is the one played for in Moscow in little over a month’s time. It would be a remarkable achievement, but not an impossible one. If the team can drag four decent performances out of themselves, this season will not the letdown it looks in danger of becoming. Keep the faith.