LONDON (AFP) – Mikel Arteta has challenged Arsenal to win in the Premier League at Anfield for the first time in 11 years, saying they can learn from last year’s bitter disappointment of throwing away a 2-0 lead.
The Gunners head to Liverpool tonight knowing victory would leave them top of the table.
But the visitors would have to end a run of league results stretching back to September 2012 if they are to achieve that – winning 2-0 when Arteta was in the Arsenal midfield. The Spaniard toasted four years as Arsenal manager this week and during that time he has overseen wins at Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham, while this season they beat Manchester City at the Emirates.
“We have done it at Old Trafford, we have done it at Stamford Bridge and many other places where we haven’t done it for years,” he said yesterday
“This is the next challenge – go there and win. If you want to be at the top you have to go to those places and be dominant. That’s what we’re going to try to do.”
Arsenal took a 2-0 lead at Anfield last year before they were pinned back and had to settle for a draw.
It was the start of a damaging spell of four games without a win that cost the Gunners vital points in their chase for a first Premier League title since 2004 and they were eventually overhauled by Manchester City. “It’s going to be a great atmosphere,” said Arteta.
“The two teams are in a really good moment, really good position, really strong position.
They are going to be well placed to win it and to go for it. It’s going to be an intense match.”