"Arteta" speaks candidly about "Liverpool" ahead of the decisive "Arsenal" match for the Premier League title.
On 8 Jan 2026 GMT+7, Mikel Arteta, manager of Arsenal, the Premier League leaders, gave an interview ahead of the big title-deciding match at home against Liverpool, scheduled for tonight at 03:00 GMT+7.
The latest Premier League standings show Arsenal with 48 points, leading second-placed Manchester City and third-placed Aston Villa, both five points behind, while Liverpool sits fourth, trailing by 14 points.
Although the title race currently favors Arsenal after Manchester City drew 1-1 with Brighton and Aston Villa drew 0-0 with Crystal Palace, Mikel Arteta stressed the need to focus intensely when playing Liverpool to extend their lead.
The Arsenal manager said about facing Liverpool, "We are the leaders. We will play at home against a very strong opponent, and we need to maintain our position. To achieve that, we must play excellently throughout the game to secure a win, and that is what we have to prove."
"I think for all of us, the gap between us is very small. We talk about this often. They have an excellent manager, a remarkable structure, and clear understanding of what they must do regarding the players they will select for this game."
"They can play in several ways because ultimately, those methods allow them to differ slightly and be more specific in what we can expect tomorrow. We have to be aware of that and focus on what we must do."
When asked if he expects Liverpool to be a key challenger for Arsenal’s title, Mikel Arteta replied, "Theoretically, it might seem so, but I still think they are a great team, and what they have done is impressive as well."
"You have to understand their context too, such as some players' injuries and the league's difficulty for all of us. But my opinion on that remains the same."
