Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has fired warning to rivals Liverpool ahead of their crunch Premier League clash on Sunday, October 26, 2024.
Arsenal will trade tackles with the table-toppers at the Emirates in a match that could go a long way to shape who leads the Premier League title race in the long run this season.
It will be a cracker as the two sides lock horns. Liverpool have been the best side so far this season, winning all their matches except a shock home defeat to Nottingham Forest.
Arsenal are still in the race for the Premier League but they stumbled to a defeat in their last fixture against Bournemouth.
The clash against Liverpool will be a golden chance for the team to relaunch themselves into the title race and boost their morale in the running.
Mikel Arteta sends warning to Liverpool ahead of crunch clash
Speaking ahead of the match, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta warned Arne Slot’s Liverpool of his side’s readiness for the game. According to him, the Gunners are well prepared to take on the Merseyside club.
According to him, the loss to Bournemouth was due to a drop-off after most of the players returned from international break but they have locked in now to take on Liverpool in the next match.
”We had a little drop off after the break. I was expecting it but we have now four days. Believe me, come Sunday we’ll be flying,” he said.
Arsenal face the agonising prospect of falling seven points behind the Reds if Liverpool take three points at the Emirates in a contest that could have a huge outcome on the title race.
Their preparations have been hindered by an injury crisis that has struck the club in recent weeks with Arteta revealing after Tuesday’s Champions League victory that captain Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka remain sidelined.
There was further injury concern in their European win over Shakhtar Donetsk as defender Riccardo Calafiori limped off after twisting his knee and will now undergo further tests to determine the severity of the issue.
Meanwhile, star defender William Saliba will also miss the Liverpool match as he serves a one-game suspension having been sent off against Bournemouth last time.
Despite the injury blows and other absentees, the Gunners will benefit from having an extra day to prepare for the encounter as Liverpool travelled to face RB Leipzig in the Champions League a day later.
However, Liverpool will arrive at the Emirates with an almost fully-fit squad that has been the Premier League’s surprise package during Slot’s debut season after replacing Jurgen Klopp.
Liverpool records against Arsenal
Liverpool lost on their last trip to Arsenal in February but have an impressive record against the Gunners and previously knocked them out of the FA Cup at the Emirates in January, 2024.
A win at Emirates will see Arne Slot cement his place as favourites to clinch the Premier League with a back-to-back victory over London clubs.
Recall the Reds ousted Chelsea at Anfield in their last Premier League fixture before going on to win at Red Bull Arena against RB Leipzig in the Champions League.
Arsenal, on the other hand, will be looking to bounce back from the shock defeat to Bournemouth in their fixture. They are third on the table with 17 points, three points below Manchester City on second place and four points away from Liverpool at the top.
