Mikel Arteta knows his Arsenal squad have to be at their very best against Liverpool away from Emirates Stadium having experienced heavy defeats at Anfield both as a player and manager. Just last season, the Gunners were emphatically beaten 4-0 in Merseyside, but the Arsenal team heading north on Sunday afternoon are a far different animal 18 months on from that humiliation.
After a blistering start to the current campaign, Arsenal further showed their Premier League title credentials with a 3-2 victory against Liverpool in the reverse fixture. Since that triumph, Arteta's side have secured marquee wins against Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United that places them eight points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table.
However, Arteta is very aware of the threat Liverpool possess at Anfield despite their inconsistent form this season. "They are a great team managed by a top manager," Arteta said of Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool in Friday's press conference. "They create an incredible atmosphere that makes it very difficult for any opponent. It is the same to come to the Emirates. It’s very, very difficult so we know that and the opportunity is there ahead of us in Sunday. Something we have done in the last two or three years is to win in places that the team didn’t do for many years."
