Liverpool vs Arsenal – Sunday Showdown
This Sunday, a significant Premier League clash is set to unfold at Anfield. Arsenal, last season’s runners-up, will face last year’s champions, Liverpool. Historically, the Gunners were often criticized for being fragile in high-stakes matches, but indicators suggest that the tide may be turning in Arsenal’s favor under Mikel Arteta. Last season, both encounters between Arsenal and Liverpool ended in thrilling 2-2 draws. Furthermore, losses to ‘Big six’ rivals have become increasingly rare for Arteta’s squad, showcasing an impressive turnaround.
As shown in the graphic above, the last league team from the ‘Big six’ to defeat Arsenal was Manchester City, who achieved a 4-1 victory 855 days ago in April 2023. Manchester United hasn’t triumphed over Arsenal in the Premier League since a 3-1 win at Old Trafford over 1,089 days ago, in September 2022. North London rivals Tottenham last beat Arsenal in the Premier League on May 2022, marking 1,204 days since their last victory. Liverpool’s last win against Arsenal was 1,261 days ago, and Chelsea last defeated them 1,467 days ago. Under Arteta’s leadership, Arsenal’s performance in these important matches has transformed from poor to impressive. What changes has Arteta implemented to achieve such a remarkable record?
From Weakness to Strength – How Arteta Improved Arsenal’s ‘Big Six’ Record
Prior to Arteta’s arrival, and even during the initial phase of his tenure, matches against top clubs were often filled with trepidation for Arsenal fans. The team was not only losing but was being outclassed. They suffered humiliating defeats, including a 6-0 loss to Chelsea and a 5-1 drubbing by Liverpool. In fact, between 2017 and 2023, Arsenal faced nine losses by three or more goals against just Liverpool and Manchester City in the Premier League. Critics frequently pointed out the Gunners’ lack of resilience in crucial encounters.
When Arteta took the reins, Arsenal hadn’t secured a league victory at Old Trafford for 13 years, or at Stamford Bridge for eight years. They hadn’t even claimed a point at Anfield for three years, nor had they defeated Manchester City in the Premier League for four years – with their last win at the Etihad dating back to 2015. However, Arteta’s Arsenal has since overturned most of these records, earning points at the Etihad in the last two seasons, even if they haven’t yet won there. The improvement in performance against top teams during Arteta’s management has been significant.
The graphic above illustrates how Arsenal’s record against the ‘Big six’ was quite poor at the start of Arteta’s tenure. Over his first three seasons, the team’s highest points-per-game ratio against ‘Big six’ clubs was 1.30. However, in the 2022/23 season, Arsenal improved to 1.90, achieved an average of 2.11 in the 2023/24 season, and maintained a 2.00 record in the prior season against the same category of teams. Additionally, they have already secured a victory at Old Trafford this season. Arteta has truly transformed Arsenal into formidable competitors in crucial matches.
As illustrated in the graphic, if we examine the last two and a half seasons from the start of the 2022/23 campaign, Arsenal would be leading the ‘Big six’ Premier League standings based on matches played among those teams. With a record of 2.06 points per game, Arsenal surpasses Liverpool’s 1.60 points per game, placing them in second. For years, pundits criticized Arsenal for being ‘too nice’ in matches against the ‘Big six,’ and those critiques were often warranted. However, that narrative has shifted, and Arteta’s squad heads to Anfield with a genuine belief in their ability to secure a favorable result.
