Mikel Arteta baffles Jurgen Klopp over mysterious Arsenal injury update
Arsenal travel to Liverpool on Sunday after not winning at Anfield since 2012. Gunners boss Mikel Arteta tries to get ahead of Jurgen Klopp – Reuters
Mikel Arteta has refused to reveal Arsenal squad news ahead of their Premier League trip to Liverpool on Sunday.
The Gunners can take a big step towards winning the title if they pick up a rare away win at Anfield. Arteta has struggled with multiple injury headaches, with William Saliba recovering from a back problem and Takehiro Tomiyasu out for the season.
Star striker Bukayo Saka was also only fit enough after illness to play on the bench in last week’s win over Leeds. And while he seeks any advantage he can gain over Jurgen Klopp’s Reds, Arteta is keeping his cards close to his chest. However, Gunners hero Merson doesn’t believe things will be easy for the north Londoners against Mohamed Salah and company. But he believes they will have enough to get the job done.
Explaining his prediction of a 2-1 win for Arsenal at Sportskeeda, he said: “This game has Arsenal worried. Liverpool didn’t play [Mohamed] Salah, [Virgil] Van Dijk, [Andy] Robertson or [Trent] Alexander-Arnold v Chelsea Jürgen Klopp could save these players for Arsenal. I would be shocked if they didn’t play this game.
“It looks like Arsenal’s home game is more important for Jurgen Klopp and that would worry me as an Arsenal fan. If Arsenal win this game, I think they win the Premier League.
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“They have one more game against a great Newcastle side but Arsenal don’t need to beat them if they can beat Liverpool. If they win this match, they would have to suffer a major meltdown to lose the title race.
“Jurgen Klopp wants Liverpool to play a certain way and his team don’t have the legs to do it at the moment. It hasn’t been that long since Liverpool beat Manchester United at home. This will be a difficult match for the Arsenal and a win here would seal the Premier League title for me.”
Arsenal leave for Anfield in top form under Arteta. Their 4-1 win over Leeds last time out ensured seven straight Premier League wins
An eighth championship win would be the first time he has reached that milestone since 2015, during Arsene Wenger’s tenure. Another Gunners hero, Ray Parlor, however, does not expect another win this time around.
Speaking to NetBet, he said: “If Arsenal get a result here it’s another big sign that these players are the real deal and they can go all the way. Manchester City will panic as Arsenal continue to achieve victories in teams like Liverpool.
“But it will be close and I think a point would be a good result for Arsenal. If I had to bet on it I would bet on a draw, a 2-2 draw.” Both defenses with firepower in play will be vulnerable.
“Arsenal have been very good in defence, but I see some goals in this game, so I’m making it 2-2.”