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Arsenal legend Martin Keown has hailed the Gunners’ preparation and hunger ahead of their Premier League clash against Liverpool at the weekend.
THE LOWDOWN: HUNGRY ARSENAL
Arsenal have been a different animal this season and it seems that there’s a shift in mentality at the north London club. They won their opening five league games of the season in all competitions before suffering a 3-1 defeat to Manchester United in early September.
However, Mikel Arteta’s men have been able to bounce back since then, racking up four consecutive wins to get the season back on track.
The Gunners still maintain top spot in the league, and ahead of the visit of Liverpool, one familiar name is impressed with the hunger shown by Arsenal so far this season.
THE LATEST: KEOWN’S PRAISE FOR ARSENAL
Arsenal legend and Sportsmail columnist Keown was full of praise for his former club after their 3-0 win over Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League on Thursday night and believes that the high standards being sought that night offer a good marker ahead of a tough game against Liverpool this weekend.
Speaking to BT Sport [via Daily Mail], he said: “Mikel Arteta is right to set the bar high. They’re top of the league. They’ve got a a tough game coming up against Liverpool so they need the next lot to prove they need to be at the top. He wants more, perfection.”
“It worked at Zurich but I felt one or two struggled in the early stages. Jesus coming off the bench demonstrates to the group “look at the quality, I am the top man”.
The former defender added of Gabriel Jesus: “He’s the role model within the group. Liverpool are sitting there and Klopp’s watching, they’re going to have to be up for that challenge. But it will be a very different Emirates experience this time – it’s a special day for every game there.”
THE VERDICT: RIGHT PREPARATION
Arsenal got the ideal result on Thursday night to prepare for the visit of Liverpool.
The Reds have been a menace to the Gunners in recent years, winning six of the teams’ last seven league meetings, but Arteta and co have the chance to get one over Jürgen Klopp’s men at the Emirates on Sunday.
This time, they do so from a position of superiority, having often been looking up the table at the Merseysiders during the current managers’ respective reigns.
