Jamie Carragher has claimed that today's clash against Liverpool is Arsenal's biggest match in years.
Mikel Arteta's side currently sit five points clear at the top of the Premier League table after second-placed Manchester City defeated Southampton 4-1 on Saturday afternoon. Next up for the Gunners is a trip to Anfield this afternoon as they look to widen the gap between them and City back to eight points.
However, the north London outfit have struggled away to the Reds in recent years, failing to win a league match at Anfield since 2012 - when Arteta was still a player. Now, Carragher has suggested that today's fixture is Arsenal's biggest match since the glory days during Arsene Wenger's time as head coach.
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"I think it's the biggest game for them because if Arsenal were to win this game most people in this country will believe they'll go on to win the title and I think if they lose the game vice versa," Carragher told the Essential Football Podcast, via Sky Sports. "I believe City having that game in hand and that game to come at the Etihad against Arsenal, I think it could swing either way depending on this result for Arsenal.
"I can't think of a bigger game for Arsenal, certainly in the Premier League, since the glory days of Arsene Wenger when they were going for titles. It does feel that big because we know how tough Anfield is to go and get three points."
The former Liverpool and England defender then went on to claim that quieting down the Anfield atmosphere will be key for the Gunners if they are to come away from Merseyside with a result. Speaking about Arteta's touchline antics potentially geeing up the crowd, Carragher said: "Maybe in the back of his head, he will be thinking with his staff and his players on the pitch, 'Don't bring the crowd into play', because if this is just a football game Arsenal win this, certainly on the form of this season.
"The only reason Liverpool fans think they can win this is because it's at Anfield, it's a tight pitch, they can create some atmosphere on the terraces. Arsenal's player and staff need to make sure they don't inflame that by doing a silly tackle or Arteta getting involved with the officials.
"That's got to be a big part of Arteta's team talk - how they can quieten the crowd."
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