Aston Lukoye
Arsenal’s manager Mikel Arteta believes that the previous record at Anfield presents ‘a big opportunity’ as they prepare to face Liverpool on Easter Sunday.
Despite Liverpool’s inconsistent form this season, Anfield has remained an incredibly tough ground for visiting teams. In the past ten Premier League visits, Arsenal has managed just one win among seven losses and two draws. Leeds United are the only side to beat them there so far in the league.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday, Arteta said: “We’ve been to a few grounds this season where we haven’t won in 17, 18 and 22 years and we have managed to do that. So we are capable of [winning at Anfield], that’s for sure. We really need to embrace the moment and go for it. The team is full of enthusiasm and positivity, and we know that we have a big challenge, but I see a big opportunity to go to Anfield and do something that we haven’t done for many years. That’s what is driving the team in the last few days.”
Although Arsenal achieved an away victory over Liverpool in the Carabao Cup fourth round in 2020, their last league win at Anfield came over a decade ago, at the beginning of the 2012/13 season. Arteta was part of the starting XI that day and his knowledge of how to win at Anfield will undoubtedly prove to be a boost to the current squad.
When asked why Anfield was such a tough ground to visit, the boss had the following reflections: “They are a great team, managed by a top manager and they create an incredible atmosphere that makes it really difficult for us, for any opponent, as it is when to come to the Emirates. It’s very, very difficult, so we know that, and the opportunity is ahead of us there on Sunday to do something that we have done in the last two or three years, to win in places that the team didn’t do for many, many years.”
Arteta stated that lessons had been learned from last season’s 4-0 loss at Anfield, and that the team will need to be at their best to have a chance of winning: “We know that we’re going to have to be our very best to win the game and certainly better than we were there last year, especially in the second half when we just opened up and allowed Liverpool to have space in a really comfortable way.”
The manager reiterated that history would not predetermine the future, and that this season’s circumstances are vastly different compared to the club’s previous matches at Anfield: “First of all, it’s a different group, we are coming from a different position and what I see is enthusiasm, positivity and something that you need to have: courage. Courage to play, courage to impose yourself on the game and be dominant. On Sunday we will try to be that team.”
