Martin Keown insists Arsenal can use the atmosphere at the Emirates Stadium to their advantage for this weekend’s visit of Liverpool in the Premier League.
Last season, Mikel Arteta attempted to recreate the famous atmosphere at Liverpool’s Anfield home by putting his Gunners stars through their paces to the tune of their opponent’s famous anthem, You'll Never Walk Alone. The Spaniard explained it was a unique atmosphere in which he was “unable to cope” at times as a player.
This Sunday’s clash will be in North London – where the Reds have won on each of their last three visits, including twice last season, without conceding a goal. However, they will face a resurgent Arsenal this time round with Arteta’s side top of the league with seven wins from their opening eight Premier League matches.
Speaking to BT Sport on Thursday night after Arsenal ran out three-goal victors over Bodo/Glimt, Keown said: "The level of the opponent and the opponent is coming up in the distance because Klopp’s watching, 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.
“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 short, Keown believes that Arsenal have the ideal opportunity to exact revenge over Liverpool – who have been out of sorts this campaign with just two league wins to date – by creating an intimidating atmosphere which can throw Jurgen Klopp’s side off their stride.
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Arsenal boss Arteta was heard saying in the club’s All or Nothing documentary, aired earlier this year: "If you put extension leads, I want them here. One of my crazy ideas! Today they are going to train in the background [with] You'll Never Walk Alone."
Outlining the rationale behind his idea from his office, Arteta said: "There is a word we use in Spain on cycling. When a cyclist is going up and looks amazing, and in one kilometre he goes [points down] and looks like he [makes crashing noise]. The word is called 'bajar'.
"I had it once at Anfield. The game was going there and suddenly I could only see red shirts flying around, the game is passing all over me and I cannot react. And people think, 'what is he doing', and I am like, 'I cannot do it, I cannot do it emotionally, physically I cannot cope'. Everything goes too fast and I only had that feeling in my career once, and it was at Anfield."
