Mikel Arteta has backed Arsenal to end their winless run at Liverpool as his side gear up for a crunch clash at Anfield on Sunday.
The Gunners haven’t beaten the Reds on their patch since September 2012 when Abou Diaby ran the show and Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla bagged the goals.
A couple of draws aside, it’s been tough going in the 11 years since with Jurgen Klopp’s reign heralding a period of huge dominance for Liverpool.
At the same time, Arsenal have hit new heights this season under Arteta and he’s hoping his players take heart from the way they’ve turned the table on other bad away records.
“We’ve been in a few grounds where we’ve not won in 17, 22 years and another 18 and we have managed to do that. We are capable of doing it,” he said.
“We have to prove it on Sunday. To be able to go there, perform, be emotionally sound and do the right things that we need to do in the right moment to get away with the result that we want.”
He added: “It’s a different group, we’re coming from a different position and what I see is enthusiasm and positivity. Something you need to have is courage, courage to play, courage to impose yourself in the game and be dominant and on Sunday we’ll try to be that team.”
Last season, Arsenal travelled to Merseyside for their league encounter on the back of an eight-game unbeaten run only to crack in familiar style following Sadio Mane’s opener six minutes before the break.
“We know we have to be at our very best to win the game and certainly better than we were there last year, especially in the second half when we were just opened up and allowed Liverpool to attack open spaces in a really comfortable way,” said the boss.
“We’re going to have to be better than last year, that’s for sure.”
The 4-0 defeat proved particularly painful for Arteta who’d embroiled himself in a touchline spat with Klopp only to provoke the home support into producing a cauldron-like atmosphere.
“That’s football, it happens in football and after that you hug each other and move on,” said Arteta.
“Last time we were together, nothing happened. I have full respect and admiration for what they have done, him and the coaching staff at Liverpool. We’ve moved on.”
“I have to be in that situation again,” he said when asked if he’d do anything different.
“I reacted that day to defend our players in the best possible way and that’s it. I don’t like seeing me like this.”
On Klopp being an inspiration to him, he added: “Of course, and coming from abroad, the way he did it, the way he installed that clear identity, values and the way he transmitted it and everybody bought his ideas so early. He needed some time but then results came up in the best possible way.”
While a 0-0 draw in January’s League Cup semi-final first leg, notably achieved with 10 men, is something to build on, it’s a win the Gunners require if they are to maintain their title-challenge momentum.
Even though the pressure is on, the boss insists he and his players must do their utmost to enjoy the run-in and the incredible moment they are living.
“We do enjoy it, we have to enjoy it,” said the boss.
“We need to embrace the moment and go for it. The team is full of enthusiasm and positivity. We know that we have a big challenge but also 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.”
That diaby performance still fills me with melancholy, seeing the talented player we all knew existed, but only in glimpses thanks to some clogger snapping his leg and the pgmol for allowing it
I just read this Article on the game at Anfield on December, 2001. It was probably one of the best game we played at Anfield. 10 men Arsenal without Viera and Bergkamp won 2 -1 against a good Liverpool side. It was simply majestic! They just refused to be beaten. And went on to win the title.
This side needs to play with the same heart and attitude to get something out of this game. I hope they do it. This side only gets better from each setbacks and hopefully they will remember the lessons from last year.
Legendary manager in the making. May his Arsenal career last as long as his majestic hairline.
Sunday we win.
In the voice of Ivan dragov.
“We must break them”
Ivan Drago
This Arsenal team fears no ground. They can win anywhere. Go there and make us proud!
“We’ve been in a few grounds where we’ve not won in 17, 22 years and another 18 and we have managed to do that. We are capable of doing it,” he said. Remind me where they are? We hadn’t won at Brentford for 70+ years but have only played them twice.
Seems like decades since we last won at Maine Road, Burnden Park, The Baseball Ground, Ayresome Park, and Roker Park.
One bad fact, two good one:
Bad fact: As everyone knows, Liverpool’s posiiton is entirely due to away form. They have been very good at home.
Good fact #1: Results from 10 or 15 years ago are entirely irrelevant to football players. Last year matters a little, but only a little.
Good fact #2: If both teams play their best, we will win. That is no guarantee, of course. But we are the better team, and the better team is more likely to win.
Liverpool’s last 13 home games in all competitions.
W7 D3 L3
None of those were against the Premiership leaders.
COYG!
good fact: jurgen klopp is already making excuses
Jota and Nunez running at Rob holding bring me nightmares. Who marks Salah when zinchenko is so far forward. Liverpools midfield is old and slow but they can still play counter attack football. 7 to 0 against Man United. Urgh. Let’s hope we leave some defenders back when we attack.
On the flip side.
Martinelli running at Alexander Arnold.
Odegaard/Jesus/Saka taking on an aging Van Dijk
Odegaard/Partey/Xhaka up against an aging Fabinho/Henderson/Milner.
I think they will be just as worried, if not more…
The fans must adopt the same attitude as the players. Give everything to win, treat the day, the match, with respect and dominate. No matter the outcome know that we will support each other so that for each following match we are all standing strong and supporting each other in every way possible to fight for and win the league. Two groups of some of the best players and athletes and managers competing….COYG!
The is a reason why Arsenal are on 72 points and
Liverpool are on 43 points.
Let’s do the job with no fear.
Let’s beat them at their backyard. COYG!!!
Horses for courses comes to mind in this upcoming fixture, ok we have been abysmal in regards to performances and results at Anfield for years but Arsenal are a different breed this season, a different mentality has set in through Miki’s astute signings, moving players on and a game plan his squad all buy into, for years I’d bite your hand off for a point in this fixture but can’t see us not coming home with 3 points, if we can keep our mid axis Phartey/Xhaka and Zichenko moving the mikiball at speed our forward line will take their chances,… Read more »
I bet you wouldn’t call him Phartey to his face
Oops.. strange how my spellcheck keeps referring to him this way, i didn’t get wind of it till you pointed it out..
Heh, I see what you did there