Mikel Arteta has assured that his Arsenal side will be ready and “flying” for Sunday’s highly anticipated Premier League clash against Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium.
While Liverpool and their new head coach, Arne Slot, are focused on tonight’s Champions League fixture against RB Leipzig, Arsenal have turned their full attention to what could be one of the season’s most significant domestic showdowns.
Arsenal will host Liverpool on Sunday, coming off the back of a crucial, if unconvincing, 1-0 Champions League victory over Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday night.
Though the performance might not have instilled fear in Slot’s table-topping Liverpool – who have won 10 of their first 11 matches across all competitions – it did offer a boost to Arsenal’s morale after a difficult weekend.
The Gunners’ recent 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth left them three points behind reigning champions Manchester City and four points adrift of league leaders Liverpool.
The loss was compounded by William Saliba’s red card, making him the third Arsenal player to be sent off in their last six Premier League matches.
The French centre-back will now be suspended for Sunday’s clash against the Reds.
Arteta’s injury concerns only worsened on Tuesday when Riccardo Calafiori was forced off in the second half against Shakhtar.
The Arsenal manager is already contending with a depleted defense, with Jurrien Timber, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Kieran Tierney sidelined.
Additionally, captain Martin Odegaard and star forward Bukayo Saka are both doubtful for the Liverpool game.
Despite the challenges, Arteta remains confident.
Although he acknowledged that Tuesday’s performance was “tired,” he has vowed that his team will be fully prepared and energized for Sunday’s critical encounter.
“Two very different halves,” Mikel Arteta said after the win over Shakhtar.
“The first one we were very dominant and created four big, big chances.
“We should have put the game to bed with the amount of dominance and territory that we had.
“We looked tired.
“We lacked that sharpness with and without the ball to regain the ball in the right moments and areas and gave certain balls away that allow certain transitions.
“We had chances again and missed a big penalty.
“That emotion was difficult to overcome and then we had to dig in. But credit to them.
“They are a big side and the moment you give them space and you hand them chances in transition they look a real threat.
“But overall it’s Champions League, get the win, clean sheet. Let’s move on.
“We played two nights ago with players coming from internationals after flying from Brazil and many countries.
“I was expecting a bit of a drop off. And the fact that we put so much in the first half and didn’t get the distance in terms of the scoreline, I think we paid a bit for that.
“Then we made life more difficult for us because we started give the ball away in not the right areas and then it was more open. That didn’t help.
“But we have now four days.
“Believe me, come Sunday we’ll be flying.”
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