Former Arsenal player who was once tipped to be better than Bukayo Saka could provide Mikel Arteta with Premier League title boost

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Arsenal know that they are in need of a Liverpool collapse if they are to claim their first Premier League crown since 2004.

Arne Slot’s side sit seven points clear of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League and have lost just once all season with a 1-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest back in September.

Liverpool will be without Cody Gakpo for the visit to Villa Park and Mikel Arteta will be hoping the Dutchman’s absence will lead to dropped points for the Merseyside outfit.

Unai Emery has a poor record against Liverpool with the former Gunners boss hoping to improve his side’s chances of qualifying for the Champions League again. Another former Arsenal player will also be looking to make his mark in the game.

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Donyell Malen wants to showcase ability against ‘big test’ of Liverpool

Donyell Malen joined Arsenal aged 17 from his boyhood club Ajax and as per The Mirror, was once tipped to be better than Bukayo Saka.

The Dutch striker joined Aston Villa in the January transfer window and has been speaking ahead of his side’s clash with Liverpool, a game he calls a ‘big test’ for his new club.

Malen stated: “You always have to look at yourself and the things you can do on the pitch and I think the focus should be there the most.”

Villa’s new recruit is yet to open his account for the club but did score five goals earlier in the season for his old side Borussia Dortmund, including two in the Champions League. Arsenal will be hoping his first goal for Emery comes against Liverpool.

Malen was deemed ‘too fat’ by Arsenal coach Andries Jonker

Malen failed to make a senior appearance during his time at the Emirates Stadium and in recent comments made to The Mirror, he recalled how Arsenal coach Andries Jonker deemed him ‘too fat.’

The former PSV forward stated: “I heard him say that I came in too fat. That surprised me. They had already been working at Arsenal for two months when I arrived. Then of course you are not immediately at the same level.”

Malen continued to explain: “I was not yet match fit, but too fat? No. It was going well in England, but I still wanted to leave Arsenal because I had the opportunity to sign for PSV. I took that chance.”

He went on to score 55 goals in 116 games for PSV, which then caught the attention of Borussia Dortmund to make a move. One that slipped through the net for the Gunners under Arsene Wenger.