Arteta names ‘crucial’ factor as Arsenal face Everton today

Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta

Liverpool also face Wolves Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has called on home supporters inside the Emirates to play a ‘crucial’ role in the Gunners’ Premier League encounter with Everton today, reports liverpoolecho.co.uk.

The Blues travel to North London this evening, just days after being edged by Aston Villa at Goodison Park after strikes from Ollie Watkins and Emiliano Buendia.

It means Sean Dyche’s side, who defeated the Premier League leaders just three weeks ago, travel to the Emirates sitting 18th in the league table and in desperate need of putting points on the board after wins for Leeds United and West Ham over the weekend.

Arteta, who spent six years at Everton, is under no illusion of how tough a test his former side will pose this evening, but believes the home supporters will have a big influence on the result.

“They’re going to be crucial,” said Arteta when asked about the supporters’ importance in the title race. “Tomorrow we expect to have the same support because with it we’re going to be closer to winning that game for sure.”

The fixture will also see the 40-year-old Spaniard come up against Dyche, who he has only managed to get the better of on one out of six encounters during his career, and Arteta is hoping his side can demonstrate the right mentality to overcome their defeat from earlier in the year.

“It’s a case of doing things better than we did when we played there a few weeks ago and earn the right to win the game,” added Arteta.

“Hopefully tomorrow we’ll play much better than we did that day.”

Elsewhere, Liverpool boss, Jurgen Klopp, yesterday, issued a positive injury update on his squad ahead of the Premier League clash.

Klopp was in danger of being without up to five