Arsenal star warms up for game and sends challenging message to Liverpool

Statements about this weekend's Premier League match between two world titans, Mikel Arteta's Arsenal FC and Jürgen Klopp's Liverpool, became even louder when Japan international Takehiro Tomiyasu assured that at home and in front of 60,000 fans, the Gunners will get the better of the Reds, with their position in the table being a reference point for this.

The London team is going through its best period in years. Under the guidance of former player and now coach Mikel Arteta, the club has 21 points and is top of Group A in the UEFA Europa League. That has left its players excited, especially 23-year-old Takehiro Tomiyasu, who recently declared that they will be aiming for their third league win of the season. "We are not afraid. We are in a better moment and we will get the three points," said the defender.

More Liverpool news:

The visit to Arsenal and the hell that lies ahead for Liverpool over the next few days

Arteta's tough message to Klopp ahead of Sunday's clash

Tomiyasu arrived in London last season from Bologna in Italy, starting his professional career in his home country with J1 League side Avispa Fukuoka in 2017. Arteta has used the Japanese as a change in the league, and a starter in cup competitions, as he did in midweek when his club beat Bodo Grimt of Norway. The Japanese is the replacement for Ukrainian star Oleksandr Zinchenko, who arrived a few months ago from Manchester City.

In an interview with the Evening Standard, Tomiyasu said his team-mates should be wary of the Reds' superstars, as their current position in the table is very misleading. "Liverpool are still Liverpool. Of course it won't be an easy game," said the soon-to-be FIFA World Cup? debutant for Japan in Group E with Spain, Costa Rica and Germany as opponents.

Takehiro Tomiyasu says he is not afraid of Liverpool

This match for Arsenal could be a watershed moment for them to end the drought of the last Premier League they won, the 2003-2004 season, when they called themselves the "invincibles", having won 26 and drawn 12 of those games to earn 90 points and their 13th league title. It won't be easy, though, as they face Liverpool, who despite being underdogs, are on a run of three games without defeat. Predictions reserved for the game of the week in England.