After winning the FA Cup and the Community Shield, Arsenal are gradually recovering their top club status lost in the Unai Emery years.
The Gunners' recent success and their improved record against big-6 sides cause worry for Kopites. The Reds agree that Mikel Arteta has turned the tide at the Emirates.
"I will say, it's a measure of how good Arsenal are under Arteta that, as a Liverpool fan, I go into this game with some feeling of trepidation," writes Justinheretochatkak at The Guardian.
"Arsenal do look, under him, as if they have their proverbial shit together. They look more sure of themselves, more confident of how to move the ball, certain of each player's role; in short, they look like a team.
"I've no doubt that Liverpool have the quality and the mentality to win. But I also know that this is a much-improved Arsenal over the one under Emery and it's credit to Arteta how much the team has evolved under him to pose such a legitimate worry."
Two wins against Liverpool, one in the Premier League in July and another in the Community Shield in August, have changed some Reds supporters' view of Arsenal as we are no longer Klopp's punching bag.
"It’s a pity we lost two back to back games against Arsenal," recalls Amitabha Das at Tribuna.com's Liverpool app. "Among the big six opponents, Arsenal was the team I was always the most confident about beating, for years before this.
"Let’s hope this was a short period of exception and turn it back the way it used to be. Bring it on Reds!"
This boils down to Arteta's cultural revolution at Arsenal. The boss has made sure everyone is on the same page and gives 100, 110 or 120 per cent week in, week out.
"I agree that Arsenal are showing more belief with a willingness to ‘die’ for the defensive cause knowing that they have a couple of top quality strikers to get them over the line at the other end," writes drwhoman at The Guardian.
"As a Liverpool fan I will be really interested to see how they go on Monday given that Thiago offers a significant upgrade to our midfield. There should be more variety in the Liverpool attack. Can Arsenal cope? We will see on Monday!"
Yet the Gunners have not lost a game at the Reds' home ground since 2012 so Anfield gives some confidence to LFC fans — their side's unbeaten league run at home stretches to 60 games.
"Liverpool supporter here: I'll admit it. I'm nervous about Monday, and I'm very, very glad it is at Anfield," reckons TheScotsGrey at The Guardian.
The Liverpool supporters concerns go beyond the proverbial Mikel Arteta effect. Arsenal have some brilliant players capable of deciding the game. Aubameyang is obviously the best of them all but the likes of Bukayo Saka and Willian are also capable of surprising the opposition.
"Arsenal are one of the few teams in the league with the type of attacking players who can create problems against us on the break with a reasonable level of reliability," insists Prof at the Red And White Kop forum.
"They've got pace, technical quality and composed finishers. I can also see them finishing in third place this season as I think they are ahead of the other contenders."
It was Reiss Nelson who surprised everyone with a match-winning goal against Liverpool in July:
Arsenal's backline has significantly improved with the addition of Gabriel Magalhaes, and the young Brazilian could be an attacking threat, too.
"Their defence may still be a weakness but I feel that the Gabriel dude they signed this summer is not bad, having alr scored his first goal for Arsenal despite his position," writes Jonathan Kai Ruddock at Tribuna.com. "Should watch out for him."
This sample is obviously not representative of the whole Liverpool fan community — the majority of Reds' supporters are confident their side will get three points. Well, we hope Mikel Arteta will surprise this bunch. We know that the boss has a plan, and we wish the Gunners will execute it on Monday.
