Martin Keown and Paul Merson have warned Mikel Arteta that Arsenal are set to face a unique test against Liverpool. The Gunners are set to welcome Jurgen Klopp's side to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, October 9, as they look to defend their place at the top of the Premier League.
The north Londoners have failed to win in each of their last five attempts against the Merseyside club, with Liverpool winning both of the previous two matchups. Arteta will undoubtedly be looking to put the record straight with the club enjoying a great vein of form at the moment.
But, Keown has warned Arsenal that Liverpool will be flying out of the traps at the weekend and must be up for the challenge. Speaking on BT Sport following the Gunners' 3-0 win over Bodø/Glimt in the Europa League, the former defender said: "The level of the opponent and the opponent is coming up in the distance because Klopp’s watching.
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"He’s got a plan and he’s going to come after Arsenal at the weekend and they’ll have to be up for that challenge," added Keown, before drawing attention to the revitalised atmosphere at the Emirates Stadium amid some great form. The former Gunners centre-half claimed that the ground is slowly having as good an impact as Anfield does for Liverpool.
"It’ll be a very different Emirates that Liverpool experience to last time because we talked about the Anfield impact but that’s now returning for Arsenal. It’s a special day every time you turn out now."
In a column for Sky Sports, Merson agreed with that fact that Arsenal face a 'real test' at the weekend. He added that the Gunners will finish above Liverpool if they beat Klopp's side.
"I always thought the Liverpool game this weekend was going to be harder than the Tottenham game for Arsenal," he wrote. "It becomes even harder now because of the way Liverpool are at the moment, the way Arsenal are playing, the fans turn up with a lot of expectation this weekend to win that game.
"If Arsenal go 14 points clear on Sunday, it takes Liverpool out of the equation for Arsenal. The main aim for Arsenal is to be in the top four, we've seen what Man City can do, but being in the top four and being competitive, they can't lose that insight or get carried away
"If they win though, they'll finish above Liverpool. If Liverpool got beat three more times all season, Arsenal would have to lose a third of their games to finish behind them."
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