Arsenal - It's time!

It’s Anfield on Sunday for Arsenal. It’s time. Come on Mikel. Get those speakers out and now all together: “Walk on, walk on….” For its now time to prepare the lads for what’s in store this Sunday. For those of you who might not know what I’m going on about, on the week before a trip to Anfield back in 2021, Mikel Arteta hauled some speakers out onto the training pitch which blurred out the classic “You’ll Never Walk Alone” anthem in order to prepare his men for battle at Anfield. Those who watched the Amazon Prime “All or Nothing” documentary know what happened next. Liverpool 4-0 Arsenal. Four years later and it could be a whole different story. In fact, for Arsenal’s sake, it has to be. It’s a golden opportunity to lay down a marker. And here’s why tomorrow is almost, I said almost, a must win for Arsenal.

Firstly, let’s address your concern. A “must-win” in the third week of the season? A must win away at the Premier League champions? Rubbish. And yeah, objectively you’re right. Arsenal would take a point at Anfield tomorrow. A point away at a title rival is always a good point. And quite frankly, Arsenal to everybody’s surprise have been fantastic at just that in recent years. Their overall record against the top six sees them unbeaten in 22 straight league games. Not a single loss in those games to Liverpool, City, Chelsea, Spurs and yes, even Manchester United. I know. A fantastic record that sees them unbeaten and unbeatable against the best teams. And whilst that’s not been enough to clinch a Premier League title, it’s a hell of a foundation that’s been built and now’s the time to take that next step.

 

The Next Step

When City faulted last season, it wasn’t Arsenal who claimed their throne, it was Liverpool. The literal demonstration of that was in the two club’s games at the Eithad. Arsenal went there, tried to cling onto a one goal margin and were denied at the death and had to settle for a draw, which was still celebrated. Liverpool went there and played like champions elect, getting the job done with an assured confidence and ease. The kind of result and performance that says, we’re going to be Champions. So, with that in mind, are Arsenal ready to put in that performance at a ground they’ve not won at since 2012?

At the end of last season, Mikel Arteta said it would be a big summer for Arsenal with some big arrivals needed, and he’s got his wish. Holding midfielder Zubimendi arrives and completes a midfield three for Arsenal that is perfectly balanced and allows Declan Rice to bomb on and get about the pitch as he loves to do. Arsenal’s long search for a number 9 is over as they brought in Europe’s top goal scorer in Viktor Gyokeres, who bagged twice in their romp against Leeds last weekend. And more recently, Eberichi Eze has arrived from Crystal Palace in what is a fantastic ready-made premier league attacker, capable of stepping into Odegaard’s position or on the left where Arsenal have looked a little short. The starting 11 is complete. The squad also looks very strong Already seemingly forgotten are the arrivals of squad players such as Noni Madueke and Christian Norgaard. Madueke brought in as a Saka back-up at a cool £48.5million. With Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie joining, as of yesterday, on a loan deal, the Bundesliga title winner provides yet more cover and depth to Arsenal’s defence, which has been the best in the league in the last two seasons. The sum of all the outlay, around £253million in financial terms, but in other terms, the cost is more. The expenditure, the signings, puts Arsenal’s transfer window right at the top of the best in the league and most importantly means there can be no more excuses. “We don’t have a striker”. “We don’t have a holding midfielder”. “We don’t have cover for Saka and Odegaard”. No more. The Arsenal board have backed Arteta and now’s the time to win and win big.

How about their opponents this weekend then? Well, Liverpool are two from two as well as the Gunners. Although, both games have seen them edge into two goal leads before being pegged back in both games to 2-2 before late winners have gotten the reds over the line. There’s a vulnerability about Liverpool early on, and it can certainly be exploited by Arsenal. Oddly enough, in Arne Slot’s second season having won the Premier League in his first, they look like a side in transition. With four summer signings thrusted straight into the starting XI, Liverpool have a new look about them and are seemingly more intent on being more “gung-ho” than ever before. Wirtz’s arrival has seen them have a defined front-four and with attacking fullbacks in Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez encouraged to get forward, Liverpool’s midfield two have been outnumbered in the middle of the park. Couple that with the fact that Liverpool have not been able to start with their preferred midfield two of Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister and they’ve not been able to have a control and balance in their play as of yet. Yes, we are talking about Liverpool, and yes, it is Anfield. But, surely, there must be a sense of belief and confidence in the air at Arsenal that this is an opportune time to play Liverpool.

The Challenge

Arsenal will, no doubt, go there and play their own game. Seeking control to stifle the chaos that Liverpool bring. Arsenal have not lost in six games against Liverpool and so Arteta’s plan for them has largely worked over recent years. Set pieces will be big for the Gunners, and why shouldn’t they be, when you’re so good at them? However, I urge Arteta and Arsenal to go there and really believe they can and shall win. Play like it and manifest it. If you take the lead, don’t sit on it as we know what can happen at Anfield. Go for the second, go for the third. Kill the game.

3 seasons of finishing runners up shows us two things. One, how far Arteta’s Arsenal have come from that Amazon documentary to become genuine title challengers. The second thing it shows us however is in inability to get over the line. So, here’s the challenge to the Gunners. Lay down the gauntlet. Make the early statement. A win at Anfield is just three points. And yet, it could signify much more than that.