Arsene Wenger Backs Arsenal to Bounce Back from Anfield Humiliation vs Liverpool

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted the team's 4-0 loss to Liverpool earlier in the campaign was one of his worst days as a coach. 

The Gunners were abject throughout the contest against the Reds, with the scoreline flattering the north Londoners at Anfield in the end. Speaking ahead of the meeting between the two sides at the Emirates Stadium on Friday, Wenger admitted the manner of the defeat stung.

"Well, when you have such a long career as I have, you have some defeats unfortunately that hurt you for the rest of your life," he said of the 4-0 loss, per James Olley of the Evening Standard. "I believe what is interesting in football is you always have a time to make up for it. When you can put things right, do it."

As noted by Olley, Arsenal were criticised after their surrender at Anfield, with former Manchester United defender Gary Neville branding the team "pathetic" on Sky Sports.

Per the Match of the Day Twitter account, the Gunners have had some tough days on Merseyside during the Premier League era:

While Liverpool were excellent going forward that day, they were allowed to be by an Arsenal side that were wide open.

After the opening goal, the Gunners crumbled in a hostile atmosphere, with key men like Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez unable to have any sort of impact on the game. They were outplayed, outworked and outfought by Liverpool.

It was a match of major frustration for the supporters, as football writer James McNicholas noted on the day:

Arsenal have at least managed to prevent the season from being a complete disaster following on from that game. After the loss at Anfield they managed to put together a decent run and now find themselves in fifth place, just one point behind Liverpool.

Of course, a win on Friday would push the Gunners ahead of the Reds in the table and into fourth position at Christmas. Wenger has insisted the desire is there to put things right in front of their own supporters.

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"I don't worry about the motivation," he said. "The motivation is there. This squad has a good mentality, and it is about us, to make sure we are on top of our game. We must play with pace and a determined attitude."

They will also need to show more intelligence and intensity in this fixture. As noted by Daniel Storey of Football 365, the Gunners haven't been firing lately:

It's defensively where they will need to show the biggest improvement on Friday, though. If Wenger decides to make this game open, allowing the likes of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino space to work in, the visitors will run riot again.

The nature of the loss to Liverpool last time out may trigger some deviation from Arsenal's standard tactics. However, Wenger rarely takes a backwards step in the way he sets his side up, especially at home. Expect Arsenal to attack, for the game to be open and opportunities aplenty to present themselves for the Reds.