Former Arsenal and Liverpool star reveals 'mentality' difference between both teams

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who spent six years at Arsenal, recently opened up about the shift in mindset he felt after joining Liverpool.

As two of his former clubs face off this Sunday at the Emirates, Oxlade-Chamberlain’s reflections highlight how far Arsenal has come under Mikel Arteta’s leadership.

He describes how Liverpool's mentality made an instant impression, showing him a focus and hunger he didn’t quite feel in his days in North London.

MORE: All the latest Arsenal news | Premier League schedule for 2024/25 | Latest Premier League top scorer rankings

Arsenal’s mentality shift and how it was different from Liverpool

During Oxlade-Chamberlain’s time at Arsenal, the club's best league finish was second in the 2015-16 season, but they still fell short of lifting the Premier League trophy.

Despite winning FA Cups under Arsène Wenger, he felt Arsenal lacked the belief needed to dominate big games. He shared, “At Arsenal, we always went into those big games thinking, ‘This is going to be really tough.’ But at Liverpool, even in tough matches, we went in with the absolute focus of winning.”

Now, Arteta’s Arsenal shows the determination that Liverpool had in their best years. Arsenal's consistency and competitive edge suggest a team hungry for more than just cup runs, mirroring the grit Oxlade-Chamberlain experienced at Anfield.

MORE: All the latest Liverpool news | Premier League schedule for 2024/25 | Latest Premier League top scorer rankings

The Gunners currently sit third in the Premier League, just four points behind Liverpool, who lead with 21 points.

Oxlade-Chamberlain reflected on his Liverpool experience with a sense of admiration, noting, “We knew we were going to win... [at Arsenal] we probably never achieved what we should have done.” It’s that same kind of self-belief and ruthlessness that Arsenal’s fans now see under Arteta – a potential return to the club’s golden era.

As Arsenal hosts Liverpool this weekend, both teams will be hungry to prove themselves. With Arteta at the helm, this could be the season that Arsenal truly competes for the top, transforming their mentality into lasting success.