Mikel Arteta eager to move on from Jurgen Klopp bust-up: ‘I reacted that day to defend our players’

Mikel Arteta was keen to consign his previous bust-up with Jurgen Klopp to the past ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League showdown with Liverpool.

The Gunners head to Merseyside looking to end a run of six consecutive Premier League defeats at Anfield in their quest to end a 19-year wait for a title.

Last season’s match saw Arsenal suffer a 4-0 defeat, where Arteta and Klopp had a heated altercation on the sidelines.

He said: “We have to fully embrace it and go for it. It’s a chance to go to Anfield and do something we haven’t done for many years.

“We hug each other and move on. I have full respect and admiration from what they have done. I reacted that day to defend our players and that is it.”

The tide has turned dramatically since that match more than 16 months ago, with the Gunners sitting 29 points ahead of Liverpool and top of the table.

Despite a hugely underwhelming season, Arteta heaped praised on Klopp for the German’s job with the Reds.

“It shows the difficulty of being at the top and transforming a football club,” he explained.

“It shows how hard it is to maintain that. We’ve all had difficult moments. What they have done at the club is remarkable.”

The Spaniard also addressed Arsenal’s dismal run at Anfield in more detail, and says their previous woes count for nothing heading into the match on Easter Sunday.

“It’s a different group coming from a different position. What we need to have is courage.”

Arteta also confirmed that Bukayo Saka will be fit to start the match after making a full recovery from his illness.

Saka came on for the final 30 minutes in the 4-1 win over Leeds United last Saturday.

Meanwhile, Liverpool have a lengthy injury list of their own, but Klopp revealed that Luis Diaz and Thiago have both returned to training.

Thiago is in contention to feature at the weekend, but Diaz is doubtful and a return on April 17 against Leeds appears more likely.