EPL: Arteta targets end to Arsenal’s 14-year winless run at Anfield

FILE: Mikel Arteta | Arsenal website

Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, has challenged his players to end their 14-year wait for a victory at Anfield when they face Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday.

Arteta said the Gunners must approach the encounter with conviction and a clear purpose, insisting that they had come close to winning at the venue in recent years but needed to take their opportunity this time.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday ahead of the trip, the Spaniard said, “It’s 14 years that we haven’t won there, so it’s time to do it.”

A release on the club website revealed all these.

He added, “It’s an opportunity. I came here and in many places we were 20, 22 years, 18 years without winning, and we’ve been doing all these things, so on Sunday, that’s the opportunity that we have.”

Arteta said Arsenal had discussed what they needed to do differently to secure victory, stressing the importance of attacking Liverpool with determination.

“Well, going there with full conviction, that’s number one, and we’ve been very, very close in the last few years to win. But something is missing, and that’s what we’ve been discussing the last few days. To go there with a real purpose. To hurt them and get away from there with a victory,” he said.

Liverpool’s pressing threat

The Arsenal manager also anticipated a tactical battle against Liverpool, identifying the hosts’ aggressive pressing approach as one of the challenges his side must overcome.

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Arteta, who also spoke about facing Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola, said both sides were known for pressing opponents high up the pitch and denying them time on the ball.

“We are both teams very aggressive in our high press, not giving any time to the opponent. I know Andoni really well. So we’re both going to face a lot of moments that are very similar, and to escape or to break that, it will be important. But it will be not the only aspect that it’s relevant to win the game,” he said.

He also warned about Liverpool’s attacking threat, particularly the danger posed by striker Alexander Isak and the players supporting him.

“By keeping him as far from the goal as possible. We always try, it’s not only him, it’s all the connections that they have, especially when they have space to run. We know how dangerous they are in that kind of moment, and the quality of the striker that we are talking about. That’s the opposition in the Premier League,” Arteta said.

Arsenal will travel to Anfield for the Premier League fixture on Sunday, November 1.