Mikel Arteta given clear instruction for Liverpool game with Arsenal 'on a different level'

After the 1-0 loss at Anfield in August, Mikel Arteta has been told to approach Thursday's meeting in London with a more offensive mindset, as Arsenal looks to open up a 17-point gap to the champions

Mikel Arteta has been told to approach Thursday's game against Liverpool with a different mindset to the 1-0 loss at Anfield in August(Image: Getty Images)

Chris Sutton has claimed Liverpool is “nowhere near” Arsenal’s current levels and has encouraged Mikel Arteta to go for the jugular when the sides meet on Thursday in the Premier League.

The Gunners hold a 14-point gap over the Premier League champions just after the halfway point of the season, but it was Liverpool who inflicted one of their two defeats earlier this season.

That came at the end of August, when the direction of Liverpool’s campaign looked very different. Dominik Szoboszlai’s exquisite late free-kick maintained the team’s 100 percent winning record, while Arteta faced criticism for what many perceived as an overly cautious approach, with Arsenal beginning the match with a midfield three of Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice and Mikel Merino.

Arsenal managed just one shot on target at Anfield, and the ever-opinionated Sutton has encouraged Arteta to play more expansively in the reverse meeting, especially given Liverpool’s underwhelming recent performances.

“When Liverpool beat them [Arsenal] at Anfield in August, Gunners boss Mikel Arteta was criticised for being too cautious, as he often is in big games like this,” Sutton wrote in his BBC Sports predictions.

“It has to be different this time. This Liverpool team have been leaking goals all season, so Gunners fans are not going to accept Arteta sitting back.

Arteta faced real criticism after the 1-0 loss to Liverpool in August(Image: Getty Images)

“I doubt Arteta will do it this time, because Arsenal are at home and Liverpool are there for the taking.

“In fact, there should be zero negativity in the way they are set up. Manchester City have dropped points twice in the past few days, so Arsenal are six points clear. It's just over six years since Arteta took charge, and this is not the time for him to be cautious.

“The Gunners should go for it, because they are on a different level to Liverpool, and they may as well be in a different league.

Chris Sutton feels Arsenal needs to show more attacking impetus against Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)

“No one thinks [Arne] Slot's side are going to win the Premier League anymore, even though they are fourth, and they don't look capable of flexing their muscles and going on a long winning run, either.

“That is not going to happen. This is a bang-average Liverpool team this season, and Arsenal should be able to exploit all of their weaknesses.”

Arsenal heads into the midweek round of fixtures with a six-point cushion to Manchester City and Aston Villa.

Liverpool, meanwhile, will look to extend its three-point lead over Chelsea and Manchester United, who are in fifth and sixth place, respectively.