Mikel Arteta 'Conviced' Arsenal Will Triumph In Liverpool
Defying a decade of disappointment on Merseyside, the Gunners boss vows to shatter their Anfield hoodoo as key stars return for this high-stakes clash against in-form Liverpool.
Mikel Arteta has exclaimed that he is ‘fully convinced’ that Arsenal will defeat Liverpool when the two sides meet at Anfield on Sunday afternoon.
Speaking to the Sky Sports cameras, Arteta said “I’m fully convinced we will win” when asked how he thinks the game will go. “I think it’s so clear what we have to do. I think we are very convinced with what has to be achieved in that game to give us the chance to win it.” Arteta was then reminded that the Gunners had not won on the red side of Merseyside since 2012.
Arsenal’s last victory at Anfield came in the September of 2012, with the win courtesy of goals from Lukas Podolski in the 31st minute and a first Arsenal goal for Santi Cazorla in the 68th minute. In the games since, Arsenal have managed six draws at Anfield, whilst Liverpool have won nine of the fixtures.
Arsenal have had some humiliating results in recent seasons against The Reds at Anfield, and most recently lost 1-0 courtesy of a stunning free kick from Dominik Szoboszlai, and so Mikel Arteta will be desperate to finally register a victory when the two sides meet there this season. In fact, Arteta has only failed to win a game at two Premier League stadiums that he has managed at, with those being Anfield and The Etihad Stadium. Of course, Hull City’s MKM Stadium and Coventry City’s Coventry Building Society Arena are two new stadiums that the boss will look to tick off this season.
Mikel Arteta bellowing instructions on the Anfield touchline in Arsenal's last meeting with the reds on Merseyside (IMAGO / Propaganda Photo)
Mikel Arteta bellowing instructions on the Anfield touchline in Arsenal's last meeting with the reds on Merseyside (IMAGO / Propaganda Photo)
Arsenal come into the game in good Premier League form, having won their last three fixtures in-a-row against Leeds, Nottingham Forest and Everton. Of course, The Gunners last outing was the humiliating defeat at the hands of Fleetwood Town in the Carabao Cup, so Arteta will be looking to get back on track by registering a statement win on Merseyside.
For Liverpool, they come into the game in good form of their own. Since their only defeat of the season at the hands of Manchester City on 11th October, Iraola’s side have beaten Brentford away and have beaten the high-flying Brighton & Hove Albion in their last league outing at Anfield. They most recently qualified for the quarter-final of the Carabao Cup, having knocked out Xabi Alonso’s Chelsea on penalties.
Both sides come into the game with injury worries, but Arsenal have been bolstered by the return of Declan Rice, Christos Tzolis, Mikel Merino and Riccardo Calafiori, who all missed the humiliating evening at Highbury Stadium, with confirmation that they have all trained this week. A decision is also set to be made shortly on whether Noni Madueke will be fit for inclusion. The injured Bukayo Saka and William Saliba will miss the trip, as well as the suspended Max Dowman.
For viewers in the United Kingdom, the game will kick off at 4:30pm on Sunday 1st November, and will be shown live on Sky Sports.