Liverpool forward Diogo Jota claims that he didn’t expect Arsenal to drop off in form over the festive period.
The two sides meet in the third round of the FA Cup at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday evening, just two weeks after playing out a 1-1 draw in the Premier League.
After escaping the Anfield fortress with a creditable point, Arsenal entered Christmas at the top of the table, underlining their title credentials.
In the build-up to this mouth-watering tie, however, the two sides couldn’t have seen a worse contrast in fortunes.
While Liverpool secured handsome victories over Burnley and Newcastle United, the Gunners have slipped down to fourth in the table following consecutive defeats against West Ham United and Fulham.
Unlike the hosts, Jurgen Klopp’s side arrive in a confident mood and they’ll aim to pile further misery onto Mikel Arteta, despite the absence of Mohamed Salah.
The Egyptian king will undoubtedly be a huge miss to Liverpool while at AFCON having scored 18 goals and supplied nine assists in all competitions this term.
Portuguese attacker Diogo Jota is one player who will assume greater responsbility in Salah’s absence as he aims to terrorise the Gunners once more.
Diogo Jota is surprised at Arsenal’s slump in form
Ahead of this fixture, Jota has said he’s surprised that Arsenal have endured a slump in form and expected them to take more points over the festive period but won’t take Arteta’s side lightly by all means.
The former Wolverhampton Wanderers attacker said: “Arsenal (are) a great team, no doubt about it,
“They are maybe not in the best run of form at the moment, but they are a big team and the game they played at Anfield was proof of that. It doesn’t get much tougher.”
He added: “I think no-one really expected (Arsenal to drop points) but games in December come really quick, fast, and they are Premier League games, so it is always hard.”
Despite singing the praises of Arsenal, he does have a great record against them and the Gunners will need to be wary of his threat in the box.
Diogo Jota’s goal record v Arsenal
While Arteta will be pleased to see Salah jetting off to AFCON, he won’t be happy about the man who looks set to replace him in that front three.
Jota has a tremendous goal record against Arsenal with eight goals in 13 appearances, as per Transfermarkt, six of which have come at the Emirates Stadium.
In fact, across his entire career, the 27-year-old has only scored more goals against one other club having struck nine times against Leicester City.
Against an Arsenal side that has conceded 3.26 xG in their last two matches, Jota will be licking his lips at the prospect of adding to that record, and Arteta will be desperate to stop him.
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