Andy Townsend has now issued Arsenal a warning ahead of their trip to Liverpool on Saturday after praising the threat that Darwin Nunez delivers in Jurgen Klopp’s team.
The ex-Chelsea midfielder is ‘happy’ to be on record praising Nunez despite the criticism the striker often receives. Townsend believes the Liverpool player is a much more fearsome man than a host of rival forwards in the Premier League. So, Arsenal may have their work cut out.
Townsend notes that Nunez often receives criticism for his numbers in front of the goal. The 24-year-old has played in 16 and started 10 of the Reds’ top-flight games so far this season. But he has only scored four goals, along with laying on five assists, over 949 minutes so far.
Andy Townsend praises Darwin Nunez ahead of Liverpool vs Arsenal
Per WhoScored, only Mohamed Salah (53) has also attempted more shots than Nunez (47) at Liverpool in the Premier League. But of the Uruguay forward’s shots this term, he has only directed 18 on target with 20 missing the mark. He has also taken 28 inside the penalty box.
Yet Townsend would still take Nunez over some of the other forwards around the top-flight. He values the 22-cap international’s threat on the run much more than the likes of Anthony Martial of Manchester United. Townsend’s praise can also now act as a warning for Arsenal.
“I like him,” Townsend said on talkSPORT. “I’m happy to go out there and say it. And I know there will be people saying, ‘Hold on. Look at his numbers’.
“Your numbers are everything as a striker. But you know what? Give me him over some of the other lot – like Anthony Martial – who stand around doing nothing. Darwin Nunez is permanently on the move [and] he’s running [at] 100mph everywhere.
“Yes, he misses a lot of chances. But when he runs, as a midfield player, when you’ve got a striker who is running hard and genuinely really going flat out [he gives you a problem].”
Andy Townsend’s praise should now act as a warning for Mikel Arteta
Klopp has started Nunez in eight of Liverpool’s last 10 Premier League fixtures, so will surely favour him against Arsenal. So, Mikel Arteta must also take Townsend’s praise as a warning before Saturday’s clash at Anfield. The Gunners will need to take Nunez’s runs into account.
Arteta may need Ben White and William Saliba to be at the top of their games when Arsenal visit Liverpool to thwart Nunez. He will likely look to push the right-back into the corner and expose space by the centre-half. White did not have a great time at Anfield this April, either.
Liverpool came back to draw 2-2 with Arsenal after trailing 2-0 and often targeted White. He seldom appeared comfortable with the pressure the Reds applied on the 26-year-old. Arteta will hope having Saliba at Anfield this time helps after having to trust Rob Holding last time.
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