Arne Slot Hails Arsenal as Complete Side Defends Liverpool’s Playing Style Ahead of Emirates Clash

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Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has described Arsenal as the Premier League’s most well-rounded team as his squad prepares for a challenging trip to the Emirates Stadium on Thursday night.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of the Round 21 fixture, Slot was asked to highlight what makes Arsenal so formidable.

“Their biggest strength? That’s an interesting question,” Slot said. “Perhaps their biggest strength is that they have so many strengths. They have almost no obvious weaknesses.

“They rarely concede, can score from open play or set pieces, have an excellent system for building attacks from the back, and can also execute long balls effectively. They are a very complete team with a full set of quality players, and that’s why I think they deserve to be at the top of the table this season.”

Liverpool arrive at the Emirates unbeaten in their last nine league matches, though some fans remain critical of the team’s performances. Draws against Leeds and Fulham, and a narrow 2-1 win over Wolves, have led to complaints that Liverpool’s attacking play has lacked flair.

Slot acknowledged the criticism, admitting it stung, but emphasized he understands the perspective.

“I find it hard to hear those words, but I don’t completely disagree,” he said. “I would use different words and consider other factors. I want to win as many trophies as possible, but I am also known for encouraging my teams to play attacking football. That is what we are striving to do.”

Statistical evidence supports Slot’s point, even if Liverpool’s play sometimes looks limited. Opta data shows Liverpool have created 53 big chances in the Premier League this season, scoring 32 goals from them. This places them seventh, level with Newcastle, while Manchester City and Arsenal top the chart with 65 and 62 big chances, respectively.

“We are struggling to create a lot of chances,” Slot admitted. “But we are not the only team facing this challenge. The number of chances we create isn’t vastly different from other successful teams in the league.”

Liverpool sit fourth, 14 points behind Arsenal, and will face the game without a fully fit squad. Leading scorer Hugo Ekitike is a major doubt due to a hamstring injury, with a final decision to be made after the last training session.

Despite the scrutiny, Slot remains clear about the style of football he wants his team to play.

“One thing I want is for us to win games while playing attractive football, which we have done this season,” he said. “We have to figure out how to break down teams that adopt a defensive approach, which may even be smart for them. We haven’t found all the answers yet, but we are working every day to improve.”