Arteta warns Arsenal back to inflict Carabao Cup blow on Klopp

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says his side will return to Anfield looking to go one better than in Monday’s defeat by knocking Liverpool out of the Carabao Cup.

The two sides meet for the second time in a week on Thursday, following Monday’s clash. The Reds recovered from a goal down to make it three straight Premier League wins this term.

Speaking in his latest press conference, Arteta said he accepts that Jurgen Klopp’s side are “better”; Liverpool have blossomed into a world force after almost five years of Klopp’s guidance.

However the Spanish boss also said his side will not back down as they seek revenge on Merseyside.

“I am happy that we competed throughout the game and I think there are a lot of things that we can do better – and we will do better – and that’s going to help us so much in the process,” Arteta told Arsenal.com.

“We tried and they believed. That’s what I asked of them before the game, to believe.

“To play here with character and to play our way and now we just accept that they were better and that they are better at the moment and that we have to improve.

“This is the level that we have to reach. We will come back on Thursday and try to win again.”

Arteta could ring the changes

Bukayo Saka Arsenal TEAMtalk

Arteta acknowledged Monday night’s Premier League fixture had been “physically a really demanding match”, so is again set to utilise his squad for the cup tie.

Defenders Cedric Soares and Sokratis Papastathopoulos have returned to full training following their respective calf problems, so could feature.

Iceland goalkeeper Alex Runarsson may be in line for his debut, while Joe Willock, Reiss Nelson, Bukayo Saka and Nicolas Pepe are all expected to feature.

Willock, Nelson and Saka did not feature on Monday, with Pepe appearing as a substitute.

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