Mikel Arteta has praised Jurgen Klopp ahead of Arsenal facing off against Liverpool on Wednesday night, but has insisted “the game is there for the taking” for the Gunners.
Liverpool head into Wednesday’s match at the Emirates Stadium knowing a victory will put the Reds within a point of league leaders Manchester City. The Reds’ title hopes were given a vital boost on Monday night when Pep Gaurdiola’s side were held to a draw by Crystal Palace.
Though victory against Arsenal is far from a foregone conclusion for Liverpool. Despite already recording a 4-0 league victory at Anfield and overcoming the Gunners in the Carabao Cup semi-finals, Jurgen Klopp will know he is facing a sterner test, this time around.
Mikel Arteta has overseen a five-game win streak at Arsenal and has placed the club in pole position to claim a Champions League spot this season. The Spanish coach is aware of the tough task ahead against Liverpool, but knows that a win over the Reds would also be a statement victory for his side.
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“Beating Liverpool with the way they are playing today is extremely difficult and we are aware of that,” Arteta said . “But we get to the game with the belief and understanding of doing what we can do, the game is there for the taking.
“Credit to Jurgen, the coaching staff and to the club as well for what they have created. They haven't just created a team that can compete and be successful, They have created a huge cultural understanding of who Liverpool is today.
"The stadium and the atmosphere they can create, the support, the level, how they communicate. It's a long of things, not just individuals, or the players that they have recruited and the plan that they had to reach that level. It's a whole plan that I really value I think."
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Jurgen Klopp has described Wednesday’s game at the Emirates as Liverpool’s “most important” in the title race so far, as he looks to take the season one game at a time. Though the Reds themselves head into the clash on their own eight-game win streak in the Premier League.
Arteta expects the Reds to dominate “every aspect of the game”, if his side do not start at their best against Liverpool. Despite Arsenal’s improvement, the ex-Everton midielder has admitted the Gunners still have some way to go to close the gap to Liverpool.
When asked if he was close to achieving what he set out to when he was appointed, Arteta said: "Still far. I think we are much closer than we were, and probably the closest that we have been in terms of what we are looking for. But I focus on that gap. And that gap is still big. We have to make things quicker, sharper.
"I think we played against some top teams and we played against City not long ago and you know the problems that they put in. Every week is a test in the Premier League and a very different one. The challenges that you face in those games are completely different, but tomorrow certainly is a team that dominates every aspect of the game, so when that happens you have to be at your best."
