Mikel Arteta has warned Arsenal about being ‘exposed’ as the north Londoners travel to face Liverpool at Anfield this weekend.
Arsenal head to Merseyside in possession of the Premier League’s longest unbeaten run, having amassed eight games without defeat since a difficult start to the season.
Victory against the Reds tomorrow evening will see the Gunners leapfrog their opponents into the Champions League places, though Arteta’s side must overcome a poor recent record at Anfield to seal all three points.
Arsenal have lost each of their past five league visits to Liverpool and have conceded 18 goals in that time, with Arteta insisting his side must be at their best ahead of a formidable ‘test’.
“It is a test,” Arteta said at his pre-match press conference.
“It is a fascinating stadium to play football. You have to be at your best and raise your level to the maximum standards emotionally, physically, technically and tactically because if you don’t you will get exposed.
“To go to Anfield is always a test. But again if you are able to do that as well there are not that many grounds as good to feel that you are a proper footballer.”
Liverpool have lost just once in the Premier League so far this season, the Reds’ unbeaten record ended following defeat at West Ham before the international break.
Arteta was asked about Liverpool’s start to the season and was full of praise for the work of Jurgen Klopp in recent campaigns.
“It is difficult to judge just on the season because of what they have done in recent years,” Arteta said.
“Jurgen [Klopp] and his staff have managed to bring the club to the best moments in their history and sustained it which is the hardest thing to do.
“They have transformed the energy around the place, what they have created in the stadium is something special and they have been extremely successful.”
The Gunners have been on a much-improved run of form since their early-season struggles, but the Spaniard said his players mustn’t get carried away, and should ‘go game by game’.
“They are confident and they are in good form but they know every game is different.
“We have to go game by game. This is a long run. The Premier League is such a long competition and you are going to have different moments. Obviously, we want to maintain the moment and the best way to do it is to perform at the highest level.”
