It’s over 10 years since Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla sealed Arsenal’s last win at Anfield. Since then, away days at Liverpool have been as fun as trips to the dentist.
The last 9 visits to the red side of Merseyside have seen us lose seven matches and draw twice. We’ve also conceded an embarrassingly high number of goals; 32 goals in total.
When Mikel Arteta’s squad face Liverpool on Sunday, something has to change. If it doesn’t, it could be a hammer blow to the Gunners’ title chances, especially with a trip to rivals Manchester City on the horizon.
It’s a high-stakes game. At the same time, Arsenal won’t have a better chance to disrupt the recent pattern of results.
Not only do the Gunners have longer to prepare (Liverpool head to Chelsea on Tuesday), but we also enter the match on a seven-game winning run and with a mammoth points advantage (currently 30 points) over an out-of-sorts opponent.
Granit Xhaka is cautiously optimistic.
“It does not matter how their season is going – they are always a dangerous team and, at Anfield, a very difficult team to play,” said the midfielder after the weekend win over Leeds.
“But we have confidence enough to win there as well. This is what we will try to do. That’s why we are going there, so let’s see if we can bring the three points back.
“If I am honest, we are looking at ourselves [and not Manchester City]. We have everything in our hands – nine games to go now.
“Let’s say five points over City – or eight now we have played one game more. It is most important what happens in the team, not what anybody else does.”
For his part, manager Arteta wants his players to embrace the pressure that comes with being in the thick of a title race.
“Just enjoy the moment that we are in,” was his response when asked how he stops nerves from getting to his players.
“We have nine games to go but [on Monday] we have a training session that is going to enable us to be better as a team, and if we go through the journey day by day, when the game comes we are in a state of mind and you are really looking forward to it.
“You have oxygen to grab instead of gasping, and we just want that energy and belief. We go to the next target and we go for it.”
Arsenal’s last 10 matches at Anfield
Sep 2012 Liverpool 0-2 Arsenal (last win)
Feb 2014 Liverpool 5-1 Arsenal
Dec 2014 Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal
Jan 2016 Liverpool 3-3 Arsenal
Mar 2017 Liverpool 3-1 Arsenal
Aug 2017 Liverpool 4-0 Arsenal
Dec 2018 Liverpool 5-1 Arsenal
Aug 2019 Liverpool 3-1 Arsenal
Sep 2020 Liverpool 3-1 Arsenal
Nov 2021 Liverpool 4-0 Arsenal
Haha what? September 2012 was a 2-0 win to us with Diaby bossing the midfield, alongside a certain Mikel Arteta winning each and every one of his du-ells 👌
Apologies, I missed that out. I’ve rejigged!
Did we not go to Anfield at any point last year?
Yes, fuckin Carabao. 0-0 with ten men!
Diaby 🙁
He was a monster that day. That was after the first big injury also. I remember having everything crossed that he would stay fit. Poor guy. I still feel emotional thinking of some of the players that were robbed from us by opposing thugs.
Abou Diaby was one hell of a player.
He was 1000x Pogbas skill
there’s a YouTube of all diaby’s touches in that game, what might have been.
I’ve always wanted to make a YouTube video of me “drinking” an entire cup of tea, solely by dunking ginger nuts.
I wonder how many it would take. And imagine the mess in the bottom of the mug at the end.
Anyway. Football. What’s everyone saying? Who thinks we should play Welbeck against the Baggies next weekend?
God he was good that day!
I love that phrase “we have oxygen to grab”. That’s so positive. It’s clear the mindset has changed this season. The psychology of this team is so strong. Some people said Arteta wasn’t a good man manager but it seems this is far from the truth. He just didn’t have time for mollycoddling egos. Long may it continue. What he’s done with this group far outweighs anything we did with some superstars in Auba, Alexis and Ozil. All players I really liked but this group, as a collective, are special. So far it’s like project youth gone right
So well put Merlin, lets not forget when we had our dip of results Miki said he was even more than convinced we could win PL.. if only he was my manager “Doghouse you are getting tired of winning all those bins you take to the dustcart, not all are going to be collected in one go, stay calm and take one bin at a time”
This is a must win game. A draw in this game and a loss to City will see us in 2nd place. Not sure if City will drop any more points to be honest. The key will be getting something at City, even a draw is massive.
They have a far easier run-in than us. We will need to be at our best for the rest of the season. Hope we are!!!
Maybe they do but they also have more games.to play and the distraction, tiredness and opportunity to loose focus that comes with that.
COYG!!!!!
I feel that too, thought the old cliche that ‘there are no easy games’ feels truer than ever this year.
Fingers crossed the champion’s league and FA Cup will serve as sufficient distraction.
Yeah, but they still have to play The Arsenal !!
It’s in our hands. Can’t ask for much more than that.
We can even afford a couple of draws or a loss.
We can afford three draws if one is at City, or a loss and a draw if the draw is at City.
I hope we learn something from last year. I don’t know if Arteta will change his approach at all, but I remember thinking we’d be wise to be conservative at Spurs last year. A draw there I think would have been enough to make our objective. Possible that this year it will be the same.
The problem is that this Arsenal team doesn’t do draws. I don’t think it’s likely to happen unless we go for it and are either unlucky, or Liverpool are good.
It’s more likely a win or a loss, and a win is only likely if we go for it.
Well, the good news is this Arsenal team doesn’t do losses either. P29 W23 D3 L3
This is going to be tough till the end of the season but, based on what we did so far this season, we can definitely do it. The key will be fitness, for the rest I trust Arteta and the team to deliver, plus i want to believe in our bright star (ok VAR has been sh*t, but we’ve played some team this year that were not always at their best, with fitness or red card issues… plus we had those late winners, including some rebound from the post onto the back of the goalie into the net…). One game… Read more »
They are a different team home and away. Twelve points away–relegation form. Thirty at home, which is a top four number.
Our last win came in the 2012-13 season. Not the RVP winner. But the Abou Diaby masterclass.
this year will be different. i believe that. neither team are what they one were. and i believe that Arsenal, with our squad, and the form that we’re in, will be too much for Loserpool (useless … can’t even beat citeh). COYG!
I’m more nervous based on the past history which to the players I don’t think will matter too much. On current form and the way the season has gone I expect them to be far more cautious of us than them. A point isn’t terrible but a win will do wonders for the belief so here’s hoping for a big 3 points
If we beat Liverpool then I’ll truly believe well win the league. Until now it’s just been hope.
I think we have the ability to win all our remaining games, but equally can see certain games being potential banana skins!!! Beat liverdross and I will feel more optimistic, Newcastle will be another tough cookie but they won’t be able to park the bus at home, same goes for city!!! So might be able to do those two on the break 👍👍👍
One game at a time – and each time we take the field, believe only that we are going to win it.
You shouldn’t underestimate them. They are the almost same team (with less motivation and energy) that was running riot.
I bet they will be fired up to prove they can beat the top of the league!
But we can’t afford to lose.
And you don’t think our boys will be fired up?
Have some faith FFS.
Well if spuds drop more points in their game against Brighton (quite likely being how good Brighton have been this season) and we beat liverdross then there will be double celebrations (one for the three points and the other for the return of st totteringham day)
I do feel the football Gods have been punishing us ever since, for having the temerity to win the Title at Anfield in ’89. Some serious floggings have occurred up there in the intervening years. Having looked at City’s remaining fixtures, their run in is much easier than ours, and with Saints/Leicester and Fulham to come before they play us, they aren’t going away anytime soon. Given the paucity of info regarding Saliba’s back problem, I do worry about facing Pool if Holding is in the backline, facing their very pacey forwards. This game is probably the pivotal one, and… Read more »
The Saints, the Foxes and the Cottagers are exactly the Archilles heels of the Citizens.
Come Gunners, Let’s not focus on previous games. Approach the coming game with calmness. Avoid unnecessary fouls near your box and be ruthless in their box. Emulate the Invincibles. Bring it home Mikel and the lads
Approach the game with confidence and loads of it.
They best form of defence is attack.
“ATTACK! ATTACK!
ATTACK-ATTACK-ATTACK!” – Arsenal fans, Anfield, 26th May 1989.
We have a fucking incredible side and as long as the boys have the right mind set that we will win the game – then they will win it.
Sure, we have to give Liverpool a certain amount of respect, but all this ‘caution’ being preached to us from outside the Emirates is beginning to get on my tits.
As I said, we have a fucking incredible side; it’s no longer a case of us who have to play them (whoever they are)
THEY have got to play US.
COYG