Arsenal have been in peak form during the second half of the season and they are now the favourites to finish in the top-four. They still have a few games in hand but one of those games is against Liverpool in midweek.
The Gunners have beaten the likes of Wolves, Leicester and Brentford in recent weeks but Liverpool are a different beast altogether so beating them will not be a walk in the park.
Liverpool have lost just twice in the Premier League this season so Arsenal will have their work cut out and according to Mikel Arteta, his players will first and foremost need to cultivate the self-belief that they can beat a team like Liverpool.
“That’s a different level now,” Arteta said after Arsenal’s win over Leicester, as quoted.
Feels good to be on the score sheet. 💪🏽♣️🔴 pic.twitter.com/8sVhr31eLB
— Alexandre Lacazette (@LacazetteAlex) March 13, 2022
“We have to take the game into a new standard to have a chance to beat them, and we know that.
“Tomorrow [Monday] we are going to start to prepare how we can beat them, and how we are going to start believing that we can beat them, which is crucial to be able to beat them.”
The Gunners are undefeated in their previous five matches but their recent record vs Liverpool has not been particularly great.
The two sides met in the semi-final of the Carabao Cup in January and Arsenal ended up losing the two-legged tie 2-0. Since that exit, the Gunners have definitely pulled up their socks but we don’t think they still have what it takes to beat a team like Liverpool.
Arsene Wenger on Mo Salah:
“From August up until the Africa Cup of Nations, he was certainly the best player in the world. I have seen him score goals this season that are exceptional. On his own as well.” #awlive [bein sports] pic.twitter.com/AMnlNmsqmA
— Anfield Watch (@AnfieldWatch) March 14, 2022
Liverpool will be fully charged up because they are within touching distance of Manchester City and if they turn on the heat there’s no way Arsenal will be able to stand up to them.
The North London side will definitely throw the kitchen sink at the visitors on Wednesday but even if they don’t win Mikel Arteta won’t be too disappointed because they have would have played only 27 games whereas teams like West Ham and Man United have played 29 matches.
