For the first time in eleven years, Mikel Arteta has challenged Arsenal to win in the Premier League at Anfield. He believes they can improve after losing a 2-0 lead last year.
With a win over Liverpool on Saturday, the Gunners would top the table come Christmas.
But in order to do that, the visitors would need to snap a run of league results dating back to September 2012, winning 2-0 while Arteta was playing in the Arsenal midfield.
This week, the Spaniard celebrated four years as manager of Arsenal. During that time, he oversaw victories at Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester United, and the Emirates, where they defeated Manchester City this season.
“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 on Friday.
“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.
“You have to play better than them. You will silence the crowd if you are dominant and better than them.”
Arteta admitted there were aspects of last year’s game that could be improved upon.
“The way we allowed them to run especially, that we need to correct and be much better because when they have that momentum and space they are a really dangerous team.
“But we had some big, big situations when we could have killed the game and we didn’t — when you have the opportunity to do that, you have to do it.
“They have experienced that for many years now. For this group of players now this is the third, fourth time that they have been there (Anfield).
“A few years ago, it was the first time for most of them and maybe you have to clarify and explain certain things. I don’t think that is necessary now.”