Arteta 'demands more' from Auba as Arsenal boss gives injury update for Liverpool game

The Gunners boss has spoken to the press ahead of his side's clash against Liverpool on Saturday - LIVE and EXCLUSIVELY on talkSPORT - and said he wants more from the striker in this match and beyond.

Aubameyang has returned to form at the perfect time for Arsenal, with the frontman netting three times in his previous six matches.

But it's not just his form that Arteta says the 32-year-old must continue ahead of a crucial game against the Premier League title contenders.

"He's getting in great positions, he's having chances and things will happen there," Arteta said in his pre-match press conference on Friday.

"Again he has already scored quite a lot of goals but we always want more and we demand more.

"But he needs to continue the form that he's in and the attitude that he's showing and as well the level of implication that he has, not only around the team but around the club as well."

Aubameyang's behaviour off the pitch has been questioned during his time in north London and the Gabon international was left out of last season's north London derby for disciplinary reasons.

However, Arsenal are hoping his U-turn in form this season can also mark the end to any off field problems for the centre-forward.

It's still unclear, though, whether or noy Aubameyang will get the nod to start against the Reds this weekend, after he returned to the club early from international duty with Gabon.

The striker is not Arsenal's only injury worry, either, with midfielder Thomas Partey also missing games for Ghana during the international break.

"No it wasn't pre-planned [for Aubameyang to fly home early], we have to assess him and see how he is and make a decision," the manager said on Friday.

"We have a lot players who have been through some different games, issues, little injuries, so today we have to test everybody and see how we are to play tomorrow.

"Same again [for Partey], he could not play for the national team, he really tried to do that because they had a massive game and he really pushed for that one, but he wasn't close enough to do that.

"Again, it's something we have to assess today."

Another Arsenal goal scorer who gained Arteta's praise ahead of the Liverpool clash was Gunners' starlet Emile Smith Rowe.

When asked about Smith Rowe's call up to the England squad and Three Lions debut on Monday evening - which he marked with a goal in the Three Lions' huge 10-0 victory over San Marino - Arteta said:

"First of all, I was surprised [about Smith Rowe's call-up] because it happened just after the game but I was extremely happy for him, I know the expectation that he had a lot of talk around it.

"He really enjoyed it, I saw him yesterday, he was delighted to score a goal for the country is always something special and he made us proud, not only something for him but for Bukayo and Aaron starting for the national team I think it's really exciting for the club."

It won't be an easy task for either of Arsenal's attackers to get past Liverpool's star-studded defensive backline.

However, Saturday's match at Anfield could say a lot about both Aubameyang's future and Arsenal's potential to keep rising up the Premier League this season.

Tune into talkSPORT for LIVE AND EXCLUSIVE commentary of Liverpool vs Arsenal in the Premier League: Saturday, November 20 - 5:30pm kick-off