Arteta: Arsenal has a point to prove against Liverpool
Mikel Arteta expressed that Arsenal holds a “point to prove” as they aim to reinforce their title ambitions against reigning Premier League champions Liverpool.
The Gunners enjoyed a fruitful Christmas and New Year, securing victories in all three matches—against Brighton, Aston Villa, and Bournemouth—while observing their nearest rivals, Manchester City, falter in their last two encounters.
This has allowed Arsenal to stretch their lead to six points at the top of the standings, yet Arteta suggested that there are still skeptics to win over.
He stated: “Obviously excited, it’s a massive game against the champions of the last Premier League and we have a point to prove. We are at the top of the table, playing at home against a really, really good opponent, and we aim to maintain our position; to do that, we must perform excellently throughout the game to secure the win, and that’s the point we need to prove.”
Arsenal ‘always has a point to prove’
Arsenal entered the Christmas period seated at the top of the table for the third time in four years but has not clinched a title since 2003.
While Arteta declined to draw comparisons with past teams, he believes this squad is exhibiting the consistency necessary to succeed.
He continued: “Every week we have a point to prove. We faced that challenge a few days ago against Bournemouth after a strong win over Villa, and it will continue like this until May. We recognize that once we’re in our current position, we want to preserve and increase our lead, and that requires our level of determination and desire to align with that mindset.
“We all deeply desire it, and that’s what motivates everyone; that’s the exceptional quality we have at the club, among staff and players especially, knowing what it will take to achieve our goals.”
Arsenal’s manager Arteta cautious about Liverpool
Liverpool’s title defense has not unfolded as many anticipated.
Arne Slot’s team has shown recent improvement, going eight league matches without defeat, but their aspirations for back-to-back titles ended several weeks ago.
Despite this, Arteta remains cautious about the Merseyside club.
“The margins for all of us are extremely narrow, and we consistently mention that,” he remarked. “They possess an outstanding manager, and they have a remarkable structure, fully comprehending their strategies concerning the players they will field tomorrow. They are capable of adjusting their style, which could make them somewhat unpredictable and more tailored to our expectations for tomorrow, and we must be aware of that while concentrating on our tasks.
“I still regard them as a fantastic team; what they’ve accomplished and the context of certain injuries and the challenges of the league for all of us must be acknowledged, but my stance hasn’t changed regarding that.”
Havertz may make a comeback
Arsenal could see Kai Havertz return to the bench tomorrow evening.
The German forward was listed as a substitute for the home match against Aston Villa on December 30 after overcoming a knee injury sustained in August but was omitted from the squad for the recent victory at Bournemouth.
Arteta commented: “We are obviously assessing his workload; he has been out for a significant period due to two different reasons, and he is very close. He trained again this morning, and we hope to have him available in the best version of Kai Havertz.”
Published: 2026-01-07 14:56:00
source: www.101greatgoals.com
