Liverpool's team is 'how a team should be built' says Arteta
Mikel Arteta wants to see Arsenal copy Liverpool's tactics in the summer transfer window and sign a defender who can have a Virgil van Disk-Like impact on the Gunners.
Arsenal are resigned to missing out on Champions League qualification this season, sitting nine points adrift of the top four with three games to go.
And if the north Londoners are to regain their top-four status in the near future, fixing their defensive woes will be key for Arteta.
While Arteta has improved his side at the back, with Arsenal more resilient under the Spaniard, they are still susceptible to individual mistakes.
That showed in Sunday's north London derby defeat to Tottenham, with Arsenal throwing away a one-goal lead just two minutes after going in front, Sead Kolasinac overhitting his pass to David Luiz with Son Heung-min going on to score.
Mikel Arteta urges Arsenal board to 'find a way' to copy Liverpool signing for 'quick fix' (Image: GETTY)
Mikel Arteta urges Arsenal board to 'find a way' to copy Liverpool signing for 'quick fix' (Image: GETTY)
And the Arsenal manager wants his board to back him in the market as they look for a dominant centre-half to transform their fortunes as Van Dijk has at Liverpool.
Since signing for the newly-crowned Premier League champions in the 2018 January transfer window, Liverpool have conceded 38 top-flight clean sheets in 73 matches, conceding just 46 times.
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And Van Dijk has been pivotal to the Reds' success since his £75million arrival from Southampton, with Liverpool's steely defence crucial to their Champions League and Premier League glories.
While Arsenal do not boast the funds to sign players who can have a huge impact such as Van Dijk, Arteta is keen for his superiors to find a way to bring in a similar profile of player.
Asked if signing an all-conquering defender like Van Dijk serves as an example for him, Arteta said: “Yes as that is the way that I believe a team has to be built.
“They were conceding goals, with some individual errors and some set pieces as well.
“And the moment they touched the spine of the team that changes dramatically. So that is a quick fix.
“You get one of the best defenders in the world [Van Dijk] with the best goalkeeper in the world [Alisson Becker] with one of the best holding midfielders in the world [Fabinho] and you change it pretty quickly.
Mikel Arteta urges Arsenal board to 'find a way' to copy Liverpool signing for 'quick fix' (Image: GETTY)
“You can see what happened straight away at Manchester City when Aymeric Laporte came in.
"But we have to know that we have to do it our way with our resources. We have to find a way."
The Gunners take on Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool at the Emirates tonight (8.15pm) knowing they need victory to keep their faint hopes of European qualification alive.
Sealing a spot in next season's Europa League would provide a financial boost to Arsenal, whose funds have been harmed by a lack of Champions League football in recent years.
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And Klopp thinks Arsenal can pose a real threat over the next few seasons under Arteta.
He said: "Mikel is part of very exciting new manager generation. Really exciting to watch. You can see the ideas, influenced by Pep [Guardiola].
"Mikel would have had the same ideas when he was a player. Arsenal are a really exciting squad.
"Unfortunately, probably yes. You can see a massive influence [from Guardiola]. An exciting squad with experienced offensive players."