Mikel Arteta’s comments after Arsenal beat Liverpool in 2020 are now very interesting

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Mikel Arteta has taken Arsenal a long way since becoming manager in 2020, and his record against Liverpool proves it.

Arsenal would routinely lose to Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, with Arsene Wenger and Unai Emery suffering heavy defeats on several occasions.

This changed instantly under Arteta, who won his first game in charge against Liverpool. Klopp’s side were champions when they came to the Emirates Stadium in July 2020, but Arsenal recorded a first victory over them since 2015.

Arteta refused to get carried away after the game, and admitted that there was still a huge gap between the sides, which he has now been closed.

• READ MORE: Arsenal’s XI for Mikel Arteta’s first match as manager

Mikel Arteta spotted Arsenal’s potential after beating Liverpool in 2020

Arteta could not fix Arsenal overnight, but he could instill a philosophy and mentality which would lead to success.

Goals from Alexandre Lacazette and Reiss Nelson handed Arsenal a shock 2-1 win, and speaking after the game, Arteta praised the effort of his players.

“You only need to look at the difference between the two teams today, the gap is enormous,” he claimed.

“The gap, in many areas, we cannot improve it in two months, but the gap between accountability, the energy, the commitment, the fight of the two teams is now equal.

“Before it was not like this, and I’m very proud of that.

“The rest will take some time, but at least we’ve got that now, and my message to the players is: with that we can create something.”

Arteta followed Liverpool blueprint to rebuild Arsenal

Arsenal are unrecognisable from the team Arteta inherited, and their comparison with Liverpool emphasises this.

Arsenal have not lost any of their last four Premier League meetings with Liverpool, and have finished above them in back to back seasons.

This was unthinkable when Arteta faced them for the first time, and his side were under siege at the Emirates before pulling off a somewhat lucky result, and he also highlighted the need to recruit like Liverpool.

“You just have to see how they build a squad, and there is no magic,” he added.

“You need to improve with quality, quality players in the squad, and you need bigger squads to compete in this competition, and there is the challenge.”

Arsenal have since been active in the market, and have built one of the best squads in the world. Arteta’s team now have the mentality and quality to compete at the top, and he has achieved the plan he outlined after beating Liverpool for the first time.