Jurgen Klopp has praised Mikel Arteta and has discussed his ‘respect’ for Arsenal, ahead of Liverpool’s trip to face the league leaders this weekend.
Liverpool travel to the Emirates on Sunday to face the table-topping Gunners, who have began the season in fine form with seven wins from their opening eight Premier League games.
After an extended period outside the Champions League, Arsenal look well-equipped to return to Europe’s elite this season and their performances have led to tentative talk of a title challenge.
Liverpool have had the better of recent meetings and have not conceded a goal in the last six encounters between the teams, but Klopp is anticipating a tough test against an Arsenal side currently 11 points clear of the Reds in the table.
Klopp lavished praise on Mikel Arteta for his improvement of Arsenal and opened up on his respect for the north London club’s exciting young side.
“[They have] all my respect, wow!” Klopp told his pre-match press conference.
“[It’s a] really good job from Mikel Arteta. When you need time, nobody wants to give you it. I have to say, a lot of respect, [they have] a lot of talent… Gabriel Martinelli, I was excited about him early; Martin Odegaard, I spoke to him at 15 in Norway with his dad. Bukayo Saka…ooof.
“And Gabriel Jesus, Mikel could see how good he could be not in a Man City shirt. Thomas Partey, everyone saw how good he was at Atletico Madrid. [They have] lots of quality and are a young, exciting team doing really well. Now we go there and we don’t think about [past results].”
