Mikel Arteta has challenged Arsenal fans to make the Emirates Stadium more hostile than Anfield ahead of Liverpool’s visit to the FA Cup on Sunday.
The Gunners host Jurgen Klopp’s side in this weekend’s featured third round tie, 13 days after the two teams drew 1-1 in the Premier League on Merseyside.
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That match was played in a rowdy atmosphere after Klopp rallied Liverpool fans beforehand urging them to “give your ticket to someone else” if they were not prepared to passionately support their team.
Asked if the Emirates Stadium could ever have the same intimidation factor, Arteta said on Friday: “It will be ours. We are very happy with the atmosphere we have created at the Emirates. It has been very supportive.”
“Can we modify it and make it even more hostile? I think we can. In my opinion, that is the next step. We have to be very grateful for what we are achieving at home. Sunday will be another great day.” “.
Pressed on how Arsenal will take the next step, Arteta continued: “I think the team has to give more. They have to transmit that bite, that aggression, that intimidation and that dominance to the opponent. Certain games this season and games in the League of Champions”. “Let’s create the next step. That’s my feeling.”
Successive league defeats to West Ham and Fulham have dented Arsenal’s hopes of a first Premier League title since 2004 and Arteta admitted: “It affects the momentum because we were first at Christmas and now we’re fourth.
“You can be very tempted to look with the microscope or with the telescope and have a little more perspective. My job, in a big way, is to look with the telescope and have perspective and analyze things in a broader way and not be affected for just one.” performance. Not a result, a performance.”
Oleksandr Zinchenko could be a candidate to face Liverpool as he makes his return from a calf problem, but Thomas Partey still faces several weeks out due to a thigh problem that forced him to miss representing Ghana in the African Cup of Nations.
“It was about common sense,” Arteta said. “He had a long-term injury. He was trying to speed up his rehabilitation because he really wanted to be with his national team, but he is still far from training with the team and it didn’t make sense for him to be involved.”
