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Arsenal must be at their “very best” if they hope to defeat Liverpool in the Premier League, says Mikel Arteta, with the Spaniard hailing the Reds as “the best team in England”.
The Gunners welcome Jurgen Klopp’s title-chasers to Emirates Stadium for a crucial crash that could shape both of their respective seasons.
Liverpool will fulfil their game in hand on champions Manchester City and could move a point behind them with victory, while a win for Arsenal would further consolidate their top-four spot.
Arsenal have not played in the Champions League since the 2016-17 season and are desperate to return, and Wednesday’s fixture might prove something of a litmus test as to just where the Gunners are at. Indeed, Arsenal went into the reverse fixture at Anfield in November on the back of a fine run of form yet were hammered 4-0.
“We are facing arguably the best team in England and have to be at our best to beat them,” Arteta told a news conference.
“You face a team that dominates every single aspect of the game, so when that happens, you have to be at your very best.”
On their prospects of securing a top-four finish, Arteta cautioned Arsenal about getting ahead of themselves, adding: “There still is a long way to go.
“There are better teams in the country because that’s what the league table shows. We haven’t done anything yet.
“What we are doing is trying to improve. We understand better what we want – being much more consistent in performance and results, and nothing else.”
With the international break set to follow this weekend’s fixtures, several Arsenal players are expected to be called up for their national teams, including England goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.
The shot-stopper was the hero against Leicester City at the weekend with another strong performance and was hailed by opposite manager Brendan Rodgers as the best goalkeeper in the country at the moment.
Arteta doubled down on that praise, adding: “Thanks to Brendan for thinking that way. Aaron has to take those words to give him confidence.
“He’s been exceptional since the day we signed him, not only on the pitch, but what he transmitted, what he brought to the building, to the club.”
