Mikel Arteta calls Iraola clash a privilege ahead of Anfield

Mikel Arteta has described facing his former Basque teammate Andoni Iraola as a privilege as Arsenal travel to Anfield on Sunday to meet the new Liverpool manager.

The pair come from the Basque region and played for the youth side Antiguoko as teenagers. Iraola has come up against Arteta six times while in charge of Bournemouth, and he took over at Liverpool in the summer.

"It’s a privilege," Arteta said in his press conference. "Someone who has been your teammate, that you spent so many beautiful moments together when we were younger. To be facing each other, to be close, massive clubs in this country, in Europe, in a big match like this, it’s a blessing."

Arsenal sit second in the Premier League table with 21 points from eight matches, and Arteta said the focus is on the game itself. "We expect a big game on Sunday; we’re looking forward to it for sure. It’s 14 years that we haven’t won there, so it’s time to do it."

Arsenal last won at Anfield in the Premier League in September 2012, a 2-0 victory in which Arteta played in midfield. Asked how to change that record, he said: "It’s an opportunity."

"We're going there with full conviction; that's number one, and we've been very, very close in the last few years to win. But something is missed, and that's what we've been discussing the last few days. To go there with a real purpose. To hurt them and get away from there with a victory."