Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka says Liverpool represent a ‘good example’ for the Gunners to follow but admits it will take ‘three or four years’ for them to reach our level.
Our 3-1 victory over the North Londoners last weekend underlined the gulf in class, which remains very much in tact even after they spent on £100million on improving their squad over the summer.
But Xhaka pointed out that it was much trickier for us in the early part of Klopp’s tenure and says we are only now the finished article.
It’s a model he wants his side to aspire to.
“We know they have been working together for three or four years,” he said, as quoted by Arseblog.
“We had new staff last year, we are improving our way and we need some time as well.
“With Liverpool, the first Premier League season with Klopp was not the best.
“You can see how they’ve improved and how it can work if you are together more than three or four years.
“They are a good example of where we can be in three or four years but we want to make a good season this year and be back in the top four.”
Arsenal finished six places above Liverpool in the season Klopp took over, but the vastly differing fortunes since only serve to illustrate the importance of effective management at every level.
Xhaka’s comments could be seen as indicative of an acknowledgement that Liverpool, together with City, are in their own elite bracket, clear of the rest of the so-called ‘big six’.
The rivalry between us and the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal is more now down to the respective sizes of the clubs than any close competition.