Mikel Arteta has called on Arsenal fans to create an intimidating atmosphere for teams visiting the Emirates Stadium in 2024.
Ahead of Liverpool’s match against Arsenal at Anfield in December, Jurgen Klopp issued a rallying cry to his team’s supporters.
Klopp criticised the home support for their reaction to Liverpool’s win over West Ham United, and insisted that the team needed the fans to be fully behind them when Mikel Arteta’s side turned up.
Now, with Liverpool set to visit Arsenal on Sunday, Arteta has made a similar call to Gunners fans.
“Can we tweak it (the atmosphere) and make it even more hostile? I think we can,” Arteta said.
“That’s the next step in my opinion. We have to be so grateful for what we’re achieving in our home ground. Sunday is going to be another big one.”
Arteta did admit that it’s up to the players on the pitch as well, not just the fans in the stands.
“I think the team has to give more,” Arteta added. “It has to transmit that bite, that aggression, that intimidation and that dominance to the opponent.
“Certain games this season, and Champions League games, are going to create that next step. That’s my feeling.”
The energy from the fans has been a bit down in recent games, but not without reason.
Since the late win over Luton Town over a month ago, Arsenal have lost to Aston Villa, drawn with PSV Eindhoven, beaten Brighton, drawn with Liverpool, and lost to West Ham United and Fulham.
One win in a month, from six fixtures, is clearly not good enough for a team with Arsenal’s ambitions this season.
To turn that around, the players and the fans need to be on the same page when Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool side come to town.