Arteta set to go strong and give his strugglers a boost

Boss knows value of striking a psychological blow on title rivals

- Simon Collings

ONLY a month ago, the third round of the FA Cup would have felt like a perfect opportunity for Mikel Arteta to rest players.

Arsenal were five points clear at the top of the Premier League after a dramatic win at Luton and also through to the last-16 of the Champions League with a game to spare.

The landscape, however, has changed, and Sunday’s clash against Liverpool is one Arteta will be desperate to win.

Arsenal’s form has dipped, with back-to-back League defeats by West Ham and Fulham raising questions about their title credentials. They are now fourth in the table and five points behind the leaders — Sunday’s opponents.

However, the Gunners could give themselves a huge psychological boost and lift morale with a win. After three games without one, it is harder to think of a better tonic for Arsenal than beating their title rivals.

A draw is not much good for Arteta, either, because a replay at Anfield over the next fortnight would disrupt the club’s mid-season break and complicate plans to go to Dubai for warm-weather training.