Arsenal v Liverpool: Mikel Arteta’s Gunners face a tough test but a win would confirm Champions League qualification

ARSENAL face another brutal test at home – but a win would be a huge step back towards the Champions League.

The Gunners defeated a disheartened Tottenham side in a comfortable derby win in north London last weekend.

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Things aren’t getting much easier this afternoon as Liverpool head to the Emirates in search of those much-needed first three points on the road to really kick-start their season.

And they’ll head to the capital quite confidently with their record against high-flying Arsenal.

Klopp has won ten and drawn seven of his 18 meetings with Arsenal since replacing Brendan Rodgers in 2015.

And the only defeat came in July 2020 in an empty Emirate after the Reds had already secured their first Premier League title and were in party mode.

That being said, Liverpool have taken home all three points in three of Klopp’s other five league games – including in the last two seasons.

However, recent clashes aside, the reality is that despite losing just one league game in 2022 – the 2-1 loss at Old Trafford – Liverpool are well below their top level across the pitch.

Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk in particular have strayed alarmingly from the pace this season due to their high standards.

Compared to their counterparts Bukayo Saka and William Saliba, it’s the Arsenal duo who look like veteran Premier League and Champions League winners.

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As for the forward situation, it’s chalk and cheese.

Both clubs have spent big bucks on a new number 9 this summer – and so far there has only been one winner.

Gabriel Jesus has scored five goals in eight games and is already a huge figure on the team and adored by the Gooners – and will only cement that status if he adds his four goals for Manchester City against Liverpool.

As for Darwin Nunez, his greatest contribution came in beating his forehead against Joachim Andersen with just a single goal on his Fulham debut two months ago.

But despite the Uruguayan’s troubles, this delicious clash is sure to be a goal-fest – especially as both teams are struggling to keep clean sheets but have netted 38 goals combined this season.

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Liverpool have scored in each of their last 13 league games against Arsenal, averaging THREE per game.

Diogo Jota has a staggering five goals in four for the Merseysiders against Arsenal, with an overall record of a goal every 67 minutes.

The Gunners have kept nine Prem clean sheets at the Emirates, winning seven straight away, while Liverpool have conceded their first in nine of their last 11 games – but only lost that one to United.

A win at Liverpool would see them straight back into the Champions League – after going into the weekend under Fulham and level on points with Brentford and Everton.

But should Arsenal take all three points, and oh how Mikel Arteta would love to take one via Klopp, they would be back at the top of the Premier League after a quarter of the season.

Like Sunday’s opponents, their only loss of the season came at Old Trafford, so a win would keep Manchester City in check… for now.

More importantly, however, it would stretch the gap to the Reds in midfield to a whopping 14 points, a hugely significant advantage so early in the season in the race for the top four.

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