Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said he was not deterred by the club’s poor record at Anfield, aiming for a win against Liverpool on Sunday to keep them on track to win the Premier League title. Arteta’s men lead Manchester City by eight points at the top of the league table ahead of the weekend’s fixtures, with Pep Guardiola’s side in action against bottom of the table Southampton on Saturday. The Gunners have not won a league game at Anfield since Arteta won 2-0 in 2012. Under Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool have won their last six league matches at home by a combined score of 22-4.
But Liverpool languishes in eighth place in the table, 29 points behind the Gunners, and Arsenal have already ended their long wait to win away at Tottenham Hotspur 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’s what has been driving the team these last few days .
“We know what to do. We played in the hardest places.”
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 returns after missing the game 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 all look very good,” added Arteta.
“It depends on the moment, what we want to do, the quality we are looking for and the relationships we want on certain days.
“Then, of course, you can make five changes (during the game), so you have the option to change the game with those players, which is great for us.”
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