Dropping Alexis Sanchez for the trip to Anfield was Arsene Wenger's Ruud Gullit moment.
Ruud left Alan Shearer on the bench for a Tyne-Wear derby in 1999 and it proved to be his downfall — he resigned three days after the 2-1 defeat.
When things start to go wrong managers can get desperate. Andre Villas-Boas left out Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard and Michael Essien for a Champions League first leg against Napoli and in his last full season, Brendan Rodgers did not pick Steven Gerrard for a trip to the Bernabeu.
Wenger will point to the fact that Sanchez has scored just twice in his 12 away matches against Arsenal's top-six rivals and assisted only two goals.