Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been speaking ahead of the blockbusting Premier League showdown with Liverpool at the Emirates on Sunday
Mikel Arteta admits he isn’t surprised by the immediate impact of Arne Slot at Liverpool – and regards the Reds as one of the greatest teams in Premier League history. Slot has enjoyed a record-breaking start since being appointed Anfield boss in the summer with 11 wins from 12 games in all competitions.
Liverpool currently stand a point clear of Manchester City at the Premier League summit and are four clear of Arsenal ahead of the teams meeting at the Emirates on Sunday.
And having already encountered Slot during pre-season – Liverpool beat Arsenal 2-1 in Philadelphia in July – Arteta believes it should not be unexpected that the Dutchman has hit the ground running in his new role.
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“No, because of the team, the infrastructure that they have, the individuals that they have,” said the Arsenal manager.
“He’s a really good manager, he’s inherited a team that is successful and given it his touch to maintain and evolve in the direction he believes is the right way to do it.
“You can see his fingerprints there on that team. From the beginning when you look at that squad you think they’re going to be right in the mix.”
Despite strong Premier League title challenges from Arsenal in the last two seasons, Arteta can claim only the FA Cup in 2020 as a major honour since taking over as boss almost five years ago.
In that time, Liverpool have won the Premier League, the FA Cup and two League Cups while also reaching a Champions League final, having already claimed the Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup in 2019.
And Arteta added of the Reds: “For me, they are one of the best teams in the last decade and certainly the history of this Premier League, because they competed against a team that was creating record after record and they were consistently there.
“That shows a lot of relentless and winning mentality to consistently believe, even if it some people feel you could not reach it. So that’s a big credit to them and with the work they have done with a clear identity, so that’s something remarkable in my opinion.
“It’s a team that has been competing for nine years at the highest level. They know how to compete, how to threaten you when the ball is really far, when the ball is in the outside units especially. They have the quality to damage you. For nine years consistently it’s been there. That means they’re really good at what they do.”
Arsenal could be without a number of key players with centre-back William Saliba suspended and doubts over the fitness of defenders Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori, midfielder Martin Odegaard and winger Bukayo Saka.
And when asked what he hopes will give his team the edge against Liverpool, Arteta added: “That things will go our way. That we will play the way we want to play against Liverpool, and play with that belief, with that energy and with that commitment that is necessary in a big match like that.”
