Martin Keown has warned Liverpool that Arsenal's supporters are now creating the type of atmosphere the Gunners used to enjoy at their old stadium, as the two sides prepare to face off at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
Mikel Arteta's side have been riding high at the top of the Premier League heading into this weekend's round of fixtures, having won seven of their first eight matches. Liverpool, on the other hand, have struggled to get going and find themselves 11 points off the early pace set by their hosts.
The Reds can go some way to rectifying that situation by getting an away win tomorrow, but former Arsenal centre-back Keown has sensed a key change in his former club's environment at home.
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Speaking on the BBC's Football Focus show, he said: "We've got our old Arsenal back again. I don't know whether we really conquered that feeling that we used to get at Highbury. It feels like a home now. It's one thing that Jurgen Klopp does really well at Anfield. But he will be walking into an atmosphere that he wouldn't have experienced. The electricity now - that game against Spurs was just magnificent.
"But Liverpool have been in three Champions League finals in recent times, I have a great deal of respect for them, but if Arsenal can beat Liverpool there'll be a huge gap between the two sides - 14 points it will be. But it also sends the message that they can go head-to-head with City, who we know are quite magnificent right now."
Keown appeared on the show alongside former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha. When presenter Alex Scott asked if Arsenal were starting the match against Liverpool as favourites, Onuoha said: "You'd have to think so. Liverpool haven't had the best start to the season. Arsenal have a great confidence about themselves and they're winning big games as well. It does seems crazy that if they win this match they will be 14 points ahead of where Liverpool will be because nobody is willing at this point to say that Liverpool are completely out of the title race.
"But as Martin said, the feeling's back. You can sense it. A league when Arsenal are doing well feels like a good league. As a consequence they've got every confidence that they can get a result."
Despite having confidence in the hosts, Onuoha was in no mood to write Liverpool off. He added: "No. Absolutely not. When you've seen how good they've been in recent years, they can go to the Emirates and get a good result. It's going to make for a very good game on Sunday."
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