Wright lays challenge down to Arsenal ahead of crunch title clash with Liverpool

21 December 2023 , 10:49

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Wright lays challenge down to Arsenal ahead of crunch title clash with Liverpool

Ian Wright has admitted Arsenal "must" beat Liverpool on Saturday to boost their Premier League title chances.

Mikel Arteta's side head to Anfield at the top of the table after their 2-0 victory over Brighton last weekend. That result saw them leapfrog second-place Liverpool to the summit following the Reds' goalless draw at home to Manchester United, with one point now separating the two sides.

With Manchester City not in action until December 27 due to the Club World Cup, Arsenal will move eight points clear of Pep Guardiola's men if they win on Merseyside. However, the Gunners' recent record at Anfield does not read positively. Arsenal's last Premier League victory came at the start of the 2012/13 season, having since gone 10 top-flight matches without a win in this fixture.

But ex-Arsenal talisman Wright thinks that the Gunners' fortunes will change this weekend. Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, Wright has a feeling Arteta's men will come out on top. He said: "[On Liverpool vs Arsenal] I think Arsenal will win - they must.

"What happened last season [against Liverpool ], where the wheels started to shake a bit, that's got to count for something for this team going to Anfield. I'm predicting 2-1 to Arsenal."

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Arsenal agonisingly missed out of the title to City and ended up finishing second last season, but have made an impressive start to this campaign as they bid to challenge for the Premier League trophy once again. The Gunners have not won the top-flight since 2004 but have put themselves in with a fantastic shout this term, having won 12 of their opening 17 games, losing just twice.

Mikel Arteta's Arsenal sit top of the Premier League table (Getty Images)

Liverpool sit one point and one place behind, with Aston Villa third and City fourth. When asked about the possibility of the Gunners going one better this season, Wright said: "That would be amazing, an Arsenal title.

"I just want them to go for it. If it doesn’t happen, I’m going to be devastated because I do genuinely believe we’ve got a great chance. That’s why the game against Liverpool, I’m so intrigued by it, because I want to see how we react to what happened last year. Everybody is thinking, ‘oh, let’s see what happens when we get to Liverpool’. They’ve got to use that to fuel them."

Kieran King