Paul Merson has warned Arsenal that this Sunday's clash with Liverpool will be more difficult than last weekend's North London Derby against Tottenham. Spurs were unbeaten when they arrived at the Emirates Stadium, but Arsenal inflicted the first defeat of the season on their bitter rivals.
Based on the league table, the clash against Liverpool looks more favourable than the Tottenham fixture, with the Reds sitting in ninth with just two wins from seven games. They have dropped points this season to Fulham, Crystal Palace and Everton - those first two clubs were both beaten by Arsenal earlier in the season.
However, Merson believes Arsenal will be in for a tough afternoon, especially because Liverpool will be eager to right the wrongs from previous results. The Gunners have an awful recent record against Jurgen Klopp's side, but Arsenal go into the clash as favourites, and there will be a level of expectation on them despite the elite opposition they will be facing.
READ NEXT: Mikel Arteta reveals the one thing at Arsenal that is more important than winning trophies
To get three points, the former Arsenal midfielder says the Gunners will need to show better game management than they did against Tottenham. Mikel Arteta has implemented a high-energy style at Arsenal, but he has been warned against making the game too open.
"I always thought the Liverpool game this weekend was going to be harder than the Tottenham game for Arsenal," Merson told Sky Sports News.
"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.
"The early goal in the second half did it for Spurs on Saturday. But to be fair to Arsenal they were so dominant 10-vs-11.
"Sometimes, with Arsenal, they’ve just got to steady it down, just calm it down for 10 minutes.
"They thought a little bit that because it was 1-1 they had to open up the game and score again. And it doesn’t always work like that. You need a bit of game management about you."
READ NEXT:
Arsenal handed huge £120m financial boost as details of new £600m Adidas deal emerges
Arsenal line-ups vs FK Bodo/Glimt as Tomiyasu is handed new role, Xhaka decision, Nelson starts
Bukayo Saka, William Saliba and Gabriel Martinelli new Arsenal contract stance explained
Every word Mikel Arteta said on Saka's Arsenal contract, Saliba's future and Nelson's chance
Arsenal news and transfers LIVE: All the latest news, rumours and gossip from the Emirates Stadium
