When the fixtures were announced at the beginning of the season, not many Arsenal supporters would have thought that they'd head into their game against Liverpool on Sunday, October 9 as favourites.. The Gunners are only marginal favourites with most bookmakers, but the fact they are currently 11 points clear of Liverpool highlights the gulf in their current performances.
Arsenal have started the season in sensational form, whereas Liverpool have performed well below expectations, winning just two of their opening seven league matches - which were against Newcastle United and Bournemouth. The Gunners have won just one of their last 14 league games against Liverpool, but Sunday's clash seems like the perfect opportunity to end that hoodoo.
Ian Wright believes Arsenal can take advantage of Liverpool's lack of confidence and shaky defence, which has kept just two clean sheets this season. The former Gunners striker says Arsenal have to beat Liverpool if they are 'serious' about pushing Manchester City this season.
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"We [Arsenal] are trying to chase down City but all they can do is what they are doing now," Wright told Premier League Productions. "Liverpool is going to be a big test because you saw against Manchester United a couple of mistakes and they were beaten.
"That’s how small the margins are. Liverpool, defensively, they can be got at, but can you sustain it against that team because Liverpool have got the type of players that offensively can hurt you.
"I don't believe that Arsenal should go into that game feeling like, 'you're at home, you should be beating this Liverpool side the form they are in at the moment, that's how you should be approaching the game'.
"What I saw of Liverpool [against Brighton] this is the time to play them. So Arsenal, with the belief, everyone is buzzing, no injuries at the moment, this is the type of game where, at home, they've got to go and beat Liverpool if we're serious about trying to get where we want to be, which is the top four and pushing Man City as much as you can."
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