Mikel Arteta identifies Liverpool's 'remarkable' quality as Arsenal boss hails Arne Slot

Arsenal manager ahead of the blockbuster clash between the two sides at the Emirates Stadium.

The Reds go into the match in second place in the table after leapfrogged them at the top on Saturday, while sits fourth, four points behind Sunday's opponents. Slot's men have enjoyed a record-breaking start to the season, winning 11 of their 12 games in all competitions, surprising many people in the process given the magnitude of the managerial change that took place at over the summer.

However, Arteta has not been surprised by what has unfolded at the start of the season, as he praised the Reds' behind-the-scenes structure as well as new boss .

“No [I've not been surprised], because of the team, the infrastructure they have, and the individuals that they have,” Arteta said. “Arne’s a really good manager. He’s inherited a team that is successful and given it his touch to maintain and evolve in the direction he believes is the right way to do it."

Arteta was the Manchester City assistant coach when Liverpool emerged as City's nearest challengers towards the end of the 2010s, and then watched on from afar as City and Liverpool duelled for Premier League supremacy during his first couple of years at Arsenal.

Over the previous two seasons, Arsenal replaced Liverpool as City's nearest challengers, with Arteta's work paying dividends, but the Reds have always been in and around the top of the table and Arteta praised the Liverpool players' inherent belief that they are always capable of achieving something special.

“For me, they are one of the best teams in the last decade and certainly the history of this Premier League," Arteta said. "Because they competed against a team (Manchester City) that was creating record after record and they were consistently there.

“That shows a lot of relentless and winning mentality to consistently believe, even if some people feel you could not reach it. That’s a big credit to them and they have done the work with a clear identity, so that’s something remarkable in my opinion.”