Unai Emery
Arsenal boss Unai Emery has joked that his team don’t want to play against Liverpool.
The Gunners were thrashed 5-1 away by Jurgen Klopp’s side in Emery’s first campaign in charge, but they will return to Anfield this Saturday with renewed confidence after winning their first two games of the season.
Emery is anticipating another hugely difficult encounter, but is looking forward to the challenge that Arsenal will face against the European champions.
He said, “For us we don’t want to play against Liverpool ever.
“We’d prefer not to play against them.
“That is really our challenge, a really good test. For the supporters, for all of us, going there with six points is good.
“Really our target is to reduce the distance to Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham and Chelsea.
“When we play against them it is a big challenge to show how we can be. Next week is going to be a very good match.”
Arsenal have secured victories away to Newcastle and at home to Burnley so far this season, but the clash against Liverpool, who have also taken maximum points so far, is a different proposition entirely.
Emery is eager to ensure that his side has a positive mentality going into the game.
He said, “We are going to prepare first with the adaptation to them, their game plan and individual players and after to impose our game plan and capacity.
“We are going to prepare both defensively and offensively.
“I think first is to be positive in our capacity and then work hard. I know my past is to work hard, the present and future is going to be the same.
“After we can win, we can lose. But above all is be positive and keep moving ahead.”
Arsenal will hope to avoid such a scoreline on this occasion, and will be boosted by their win against Burnley, when loan signing Dani Ceballos produced an excellent performance.