Mikel Arteta has challenged Arsenal to end their 14-year wait for a Premier League victory at Anfield, insisting his side must approach Sunday's clash against Liverpool with conviction and a clear attacking purpose.
Arsenal have come close to securing a win at Liverpool in recent seasons, but Arteta believes his players must take the final step if they are to overcome one of their biggest away-day challenges.
"We've been very, very close in the last few years to win, but something is missing," Arteta told reporters. "To go there with a real purpose. To hurt them and get away from there with a victory."
The Arsenal manager expects a demanding encounter against a Liverpool side he considers genuine title contenders, highlighting the quality of their squad, their manager and their history.
"All the top clubs are certainly title challengers," he said. "We expect a big game on Sunday; we're looking forward to it. It's 14 years that we haven't won there, so it's time to do it."
Arteta also warned of the threat posed by Liverpool's attacking options, particularly Alexander Isak, stressing the importance of limiting the striker's opportunities in dangerous areas.
"By keeping him as far from the goal as possible," he said. "It's not only him, it's all the connections that they have, especially when they have space to run. We know how dangerous they are in that kind of moment."
The Spaniard anticipates an intense tactical battle, with both teams likely to rely on aggressive pressing and quick transitions.
"We are both teams very aggressive in our high press, not giving any time to the opponent," Arteta said. "We're both going to face a lot of moments that are very similar, and to escape or to break that, it will be important."
Arteta confirmed that Declan Rice, Riccardo Calafiori and Tzolis trained ahead of the Liverpool game and could be available if they complete their next session without problems.
Noni Madueke remains a doubt, although the Arsenal manager has not ruled him out.
"We'll have a training session tomorrow, see if he can complete that full session and, as I said, I will know whether he's available or not," Arteta said.
Bukayo Saka's situation remains less clear, with the winger requiring another scan to assess the extent of his tendon injury.
"We want to have him back as quickly as possible," Arteta said. "The player is desperate; he's feeling much better than he was a few days ago, and we need to wait and see how he evolves."
Arteta also defended Kai Havertz amid questions about his recent attacking output, insisting the forward's dip in numbers is not related to his previous injury.
"Full trust on him and what he's doing," he said, adding that fluctuations in attacking efficiency are common.
Meanwhile, Arteta believes Madueke has the attributes to become an elite player but must now deliver more consistently on the pitch.
"He's getting closer but he needs to do it and he needs to make that click, and that's what the top elite players do," Arteta said. "He has all the potential to do it, he has all the attributes to do it. Now he needs to put the performance on the pitch."
For Arsenal, however, Sunday's encounter is about more than individual performances or team selection. It represents another opportunity to overcome a long-standing Anfield barrier and strengthen their position in the Premier League title race.