'Believe me': Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta sends defiant message to Liverpool ahead of Sunday's big clash at N5

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Arsenal have a huge Premier League fixture ahead of them this Sunday as high-flying Liverpool come to the Emirates Stadium.

Mikel Arteta’s Gunners and Arne Slot’s Reds will lock horns in North London, with both sides eager to deal a huge blow to a title rival.

Arsenal will be desperate to bounce back from their shock 2-0 loss at Bournemouth last Saturday, a result which left them four points behind Liverpool.

As for the Reds, their confidence is high after running out 2-1 winners over Chelsea on Sunday and going back to the Premier League summit.

Arsenal got back on track results-wise with a 1-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Tuesday.

However, it wasn’t a particularly inspired performance from the Gunners, who looked tired at various points in the match.

Arsenal are now also sweating over the fitness of Riccardo Calafiori, who is being assessed for a potential knee injury he picked up in the game.

However, Arteta sent a defiant message to Liverpool when asked – as per Sky Sports News – whether his players will still be tired on Sunday.

Mikel Arteta says Arsenal ‘will be flying’ against Liverpool

The Arsenal boss said he expected a bit of a drop-off against Shakhtar, but he’s confident that his players will be energised come Sunday.

“We played two-and-a-half days ago after the internationals,” said Arteta. “I was expecting we could drop off a little bit.

“We made life more difficult, starting to give the ball away and it was more open. Believe me, on Sunday we will be flying.”

READ MORE: Chris Sutton slates Arsenal player's 'lack of conviction' in Shakhtar Donetsk clash

Arsenal injury problems mounting ahead of Liverpool clash

Though Arteta is confident that his charges will be at their best against Liverpool, it remains to be seen what pool of players he has at his disposal.

Arsenal are already without Martin Odegaard, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney through injury, while Jurrien Timber is also a doubt.

William Saliba is suspended for the clash against the Reds after his sending off against Bournemouth at the weekend

And on Tuesday night, Arteta also admitted that Bukayo Saka is now unlikely to feature against Liverpool, while news on Calafiori's fitness will have to wait.