LONDON — Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said that he was undeterred by the club’s poor record at Anfield, targeting a win against Liverpool on Sunday that would keep them on course to win the English Premier League title.
The Gunners have not won a league game at Anfield since Arteta played in a 2-0 win in 2012.
Under Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool has won the past six league meetings between the sides at home by a combined score of 22-4.
But Liverpool is languishing in eighth place in the table, 29 points behind the Gunners, and Arsenal have already ended a long wait to win away at Tottenham this season.
“We have to enjoy it,” Arteta said at his pre-match press conference. “We really need to embrace the moment and go for it.
“The team is really full of enthusiasm and positivity and we know we have a big challenge but a big opportunity to go to Anfield and do something we haven’t done for many years. That is what is driving the team in the last few days.
“We know what we have to do. We’ve played in the toughest places,” Arteta added according to AFP.
Gabriel Jesus’ double in a 4-1 win over Leeds last week—his first league start since November—has given Arteta options up front.
Bukayo Saka is set to return after missing the match due to illness, meaning only two of Jesus and the in-form Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard are likely to start.
“It’s much better to have that problem because at the moment they are all looking really good,” added Arteta.
“It depends on the moment, what we want to do, the quality we are seeking and the relationships that we want on certain days.
“Then obviously you can make five changes (during the game), so you have the ability to change the game with those players, which is great for us.”
Klopp, meanwhile, said that Arsenal is a good example of what can happen when a club practices patience.
“I know people are always asking for time for managers. I really think Mikel deserved each minute he got there when it was not going perfectly well,” Liverpool coach Klopp said at a news conference.
Klopp hopes to see a reaction from his underperforming players when they face Arsenal on Sunday after a lifeless display in a goalless draw at Chelsea in midweek, which came on the back of a run of poor performances.
“In the beginning, maybe the steps were not big enough for some people and stuff like this and now they are (in first place),” Klopp added according to AP.
“This (Chelsea) game has gone and now we have another chance. We will give it a proper try and we will need Anfield,” Klopp said.
“We’re at home and we still have to show a reaction and an improvement.”
Chelsea’s firing of Graham Potter last Sunday was the 13th managerial departure this season – the most in league history. All but one – Potter’s resignation from Brighton – were related to underperformance.
Arteta took charge of Arsenal in December 2019 and guided the team to back-to-back eighth-place finishes.
The start of last season was rough, however. For the first time in club history, Arsenal started a campaign with three losses and no goals scored. The Gunners went into an international break on the back of a 5-0 loss at Manchester City before bouncing back to finish fifth.
“Mikel is building this team for a few years now. Obviously the outcome is pretty impressive,” said Klopp, who in his seventh season is currently the league’s longest-serving manager.
“The way they play is fun to watch. It´s super lively, really good football, top players on the pitch, good match plans.
“It´s not exactly what you can say about us at the moment.”
Klopp might have midfielder Thiago Alcantara back from a hip problem, but winger Luis Diaz’s return from a knee injury is targeted for the trip to Leeds on April 17.
“He looks good, everything was fine but it was a long, long injury and so we have to be careful and we will probably not involve him for Sunday,” Klopp said of Diaz.
He confirmed defender Virgil van Dijk will be back after having missed Tuesday’s 0-0 draw at Chelsea because of illness.
Liverpool plans to mark the 34th anniversary of the Hillsborough Stadium disaster with a minute’s silence before kick-off.
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