Arsenal defender Héctor Bellerín opened the scoring in a 4-1 win for the Gunners the last time they faced Liverpool, but he is expecting the visitors to provide a much sterner test when the two teams face each other on Monday night.

Liverpool have sold Raheem Sterling to Manchester City over the summer but haven’t sat around, reinvesting in the squad as they look to get back into the Champions League. Striker Christian Benteke scored his first Liverpool goal last Monday as the Reds beat recently promoted Bournemouth 1-0 at Anfield.

Benteke cost £32M and has been signed alongside the likes of James Milner and Roberto Firmino, who Bellerín expects to make them a more dangerous side this year.

“They have signed some good players, it is going to be a totally different game and we are excited,” said the Spanish U21 defender in the build up to the game.

“It is only the third game of the season so it is important that we do things well.”

Arsenal lost the opening game of the new campaign to West Ham United two weeks ago, a game that Bellerín missed through injury. The defender returned last weekend and the Gunners got back to winning ways, with Héctor providing the cross that led to the winner in a 2-1 defeat of Crystal Palace.

Despite that opening weekend defeat Bellerín insists moos in the camp is high and Arsenal are aiming for big things after an encouraging pre-season.

“We had a very good pre-season – a fantastic pre-season – we had a very good end to the year last year, so obviously there is a great atmosphere in the dressing room and the team is very excited.”

A win against Liverpool on Monday night will only improve the mood further, and Bellerín’s defensively ability coupled with his attacking prowess will only help the Gunners.