Mikel Arteta compares Anfield atmosphere to 'jungle'

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has called on his players to thrive in the 'jungle' atmosphere at Anfield on Sunday.

The Gunners visit Liverpool looking to end a run of 11 years without a win at the Reds' famous home - Arteta was playing as a midfielder the last time that Arsenal managed to beat Liverpool at Anfield.

As revealed in the club's Amazon Prime All or Nothing documentary, Arteta prepared his players for the Anfield atmosphere last season by blaring 'You'll Never Walk Alone' through speakers in training. Arsenal lost 4-0.

But ahead of a trip that could have huge implications on the Premier League title race, Arteta rallied behind his players to stand tall at Anfield this time around.

"It depends, if you want to isolate only a context that is about an atmosphere you're going to live in, then they should not shoot on goal. Because if they have to shoot on goal on Sunday, don't shoot on goal on Thursday just in case you miss," Arteta said at his pre-match press conference.

"You have to prepare the players, you have to tell them what they’re going to be facing and you have to recognise that.

"And an error and a mistake becomes after an opportunity to do that and develop yourself. You have to expose yourself, you cannot train the players in the zoo and then go to the jungle on Sunday. It's impossible."

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When asked directly if he regretted the speaker experiment, Arteta added: "No, because if I have to think what people are going to think each week, I will do something else. I do my best, my best for the team. That’s all I can do.

"But as well people told me: 'You did that, it was incredible'. It's incredible if you win. If you lose it’s terrible. Tomorrow if you play with a back six, if we win: 'Haha, magician'. If not: 'What the hell are you doing? Why did you change things?' The results."

Arsenal's miserable Anfield record

Arsenal will have to overcome a huge mental hurdle if they are to leave Merseyside with maximum points on Sunday.

Here is Arsenal's full Premier League record at Anfield since their last victory back in 2012.

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On this edition of The Chronicles of a Gooner, part of the 90min podcast network, Harry Symeou reacts to Mikel Arteta's cryptic press conference and previews Arsenal's trip to Liverpool. If you can't see this embed, click here to listen to the podcast.