[Sport] From rock bottom to top dogs - Why Arsenal boss Arteta can take inspiration from Klopp's Liverpool

[The GodFather]

 

 

 The Gunners face the Premier League champions at the Emirates on Wednesday night and the Spaniard views the Reds as an example to follow
 

It’s been a little over five years since Liverpool ended their 2014-15 season with a crushing 6-1 defeat at Stoke City.

When the full-time whistle sounded at the Britannia Stadium, the away fans who had decided to stick around for the full 90 minutes made their feelings clear to Brendan Rodgers and his side, hurling insults at them as they headed off back down the tunnel.

 "A sackable offence," wrote the Liverpool Echo in the aftermath of an embarrassing capitulation.

Rodgers somehow survived, though not for much longer. He was gone just two months into the following season, with Liverpool sitting 10th in the Premier League and having already made their move to lure Jurgen Klopp away from his one-year sabbatical.

The German took over just four days after Rodgers' dismissal, and the Reds journey back to the summit of English had begun.

Now, five years on, they head to Arsenal on Wednesday night as Premier League and - for the time being - European champions; they are 21 points clear at the top of the table and in contention to beat Manchester City’s all-time top-flight points record of 101.

 

For Arsenal, it’s an example of what can be done. Liverpool had hit rock bottom when Klopp walked into Anfield for the first time and spoke of turning "doubters to believers", but now those dark days towards the end of Rodgers’ reign seem a distant memory.

It’s proof that with good coaching and clever dealings in the transfer market, things can change quickly in football.

Things are tough at the Emirates right now. But Liverpool have shown just what can be achieved in a short space of time with everyone pulling in the same direction – and in Mikel Arteta, Arsenal have a head coach who has the ability to unite.

Pep Guardiola's former right-hand man may be just starting off on his coaching journey, but the impact he has made behind the scenes since arriving has been huge.

 

Just like Klopp, he inherited a squad that was broken and sitting 10th in the Premier League, a disillusioned fanbase and a club that found itself having to rely on former glories to stay relevant amid a drastically changing football landscape.

It was a challenge Klopp met head on and it’s one that Arteta has also embraced since the moment he first returned to north London from Manchester City in December.

Liverpool’s return to the top of English football offers hope to clubs in a similar financial situation. It’s been a five-year journey inspired by a great manager whose arrival awakened a sleeping giant.

Klopp brought an end to 30 years of hurt on Merseyside when he brought the title back to Anfield. Arsenal will be hoping that their road back to the summit is nowhere near as long.

For now, though, they'll take comfort in the fact that they're on the right path.

Edited July 16, 2020 by flaffy213
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