Arne Slot offered a tactical breakdown of the changes Arsenal have made since signing Viktor Gyokeres ahead of Liverpool's clash with the Gunners.
Liverpool boss sees "similarities" from last termGyokeres does offer a different threat up frontPremier League's top two from last year meet on SundayFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Slot was speaking to the press on Friday and was asked about his view of the tactical tweaks made by Mikel Arteta. The Dutch coach suggested there has been little tangible shift in the way the Gunners set up but that Gyokeres does provide a different challenge.
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Last season, the Gunners typically deployed Kai Havertz or Leandro Trossard up front. Slot described those players as 'false' nines. He said his players need to be prepared for Gyokeres' ability to run in behind, a challenge the more technical Havertz or Trossard failed to offer.
WHAT SLOT SAID
Slot said: "There are a lot of similarities between both teams.
"I don't think the playing style of Arsenal has changed a lot with the new signings coming in. Maybe they have a different No.9 than they had last season, although Jesus was also a real No.9, but he didn't play much.
"The one they have now is different to Havertz, for example or Trossard, who played there last season in our home game. That is more a false nine, where Gyokeres is more of a target man. So that is maybe a small difference, where we have to know when he makes more runs in behind than those nines did. But in general, I see a lot of similarities between last season and this season with the style of play they have. And it's the same with us."
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT?
Sunday's game promises to be an early season showstopper, with the resolute Arsenal defence coming up against a revamped Liverpool attack. The Gunners have yet to concede, while the Reds have bagged a league best seven goals in just two games.
