Arteta would swap Arsenal attack for Liverpool's due to Isak transfer truth

In recent years, there has been no good time to play Arsenal. But this weekend, the tide might just be turning. Still, some may argue that Mikel Arteta's Premier League champions are a wounded animal after buoyant League Two underdogs Fleetwood Town rubbed sea salt into Gunners' wounds.

The almighty Carabao Cup fourth-round upset provided the Spaniard with more questions than answers about his misfiring attack and Arteta could be forgiven for eyeing Liverpool's new-look frontline with envy.

Incredibly, there's a genuine argument that both Kai Havertz and goalscorer Viktor Gyokeres - it was his first of the season across all competitions - were so bad they have played their way out of the starting XI at Anfield.

Instead, much-loved makeshift centre-forward Mikel Merino, who netted in two 2-2 draws against the Reds during the 2024-25 campaign, could well lead the line. Among supporters, there is a clamour for him to do so.

It's a ridiculous situation and with first-choice wingers Bukayo Saka and potentially Christos Tzolis (the Greek is pushing to return following a recent hamstring issue) sidelined, Arsenal's attack feels somewhat disjointed. There is still doubt over Noni Madueke's availability, too.

The experienced and intelligent Merino is no dud but Arteta's frontline currently lacks fear-factor. The same, however, cannot be said of Liverpool and Andoni Iraola's red arrows.

Things are now starting to click for the Basque boss, who played alongside opposite number Arteta for San Sebastian-based outfit Antiguoko during his childhood, on Merseyside.

Iraola's Liverpool are now five wins from five including Wednesday night's penalty-shootout triumph over Chelsea and the chemistry is pulsing through the veins of his innovative and confident outfit.

The strange thing about it all is that however good Arsenal have been in recent seasons, the Reds' forward players have dominated combined XIs this week.

He'd never admit it but Arteta would probably swap his for Iraola's. The former wanted Alexander Isak from Newcastle before landing Gyokeres but did not anticipate that Isak would be available after the Magpies secured Champions League qualification.

Arsenal are admirers of 18-year-old Rio Ngumoha, briefly considered a shock swoop for Cody Gakpo and club delegates also travelled to the United States in the summer to watch Bradley Barcola play for France. In the end, much like Isak, various factors, not least his £123million price-tag, saw the Gunners turn elsewhere.

Rather contrastingly, Liverpool's recruitment has been bold and brash since their 2024-25 Premier League title triumph. Against Chelsea, they boasted three £100m+ players on their substitutes' bench. Meanwhile, the north Londoners have been more selective with their approach.

They balked at Aston Villa's valuation for Morgan Rogers and allowed him to join Chelsea for £117m before they shifted heaven and earth to sign Vinicius Junior - only for the Brazilian to pen a new lucrative contract with Real Madrid.

Beyond that, they opted to keep their powder dry and are now light on numbers - 16-year-old gem Max Dowman is also suspended after the Gunners saw their red card appeal rebuffed by the FA - for their Anfield voyage.

Liverpool will smell blood and having conceded just one goal with 11 players on the field in their past six Premier League matches, the momentum is with them.

The Gunners haven't won any of their last 13 trips to Liverpool in the Premier League (drawn five, lost eight) and they have never gone 14 winless at Anfield in their league history.

If they are to buck that trend, they will have to rely on the Great Wall of Arsenal. Arteta's defence, like it or not, is the best around and their resilience could well define the contest.

Liverpool versus Manchester City quickly descended into a farce after Ryan Gravenberch's red card. The feeling around the game was also slightly surreal on the back of the independent commission's blockbuster guilty verdict. This time around, this one has all the makings of a classic - for all the right reasons.