Today Arsenal started three of their new signings in the 3-1 loss against Liverpool, David Luiz, Dani Ceballos and Nicholas Pepe and all experienced a baptism of fire in their first away game in an Arsenal shirt at a top-six Premier League club.
Of course, it is still very early in the season but big players are judged on their performances in the big games and it has to be said that all three could of and should have done better.
David Luiz
Appalling game, responsible for at least two of the goals and he is experienced enough in the Premier League not to need time to bed down, he was absolutely woeful and I can only imagine if Mustafi had put in a display like the Brazilian did today what the reaction would have been. He is not the upgrade Arsenal have been looking for in central defence if this performance is anything to go by.
Dani Ceballos
Brilliant against Burnley, anonymous for the most part away at Liverpool, let’s hope that is not the start of a pattern. It can be argued he was out of position but that is no excuse for his horrendous misplaced pass across the penalty area in the first half, he showed no vision or creativity and he really needs to do better against the big teams if he wants to avoid the treatment handed out to the likes of Mesut Ozil.
Nicolas Pepe
Did better than the other two signings but not by much, he failed to score when presented with a golden opportunity in the first half and the whole idea of spending so much money on him was that he would take those chances. It is still early and hopefully, he will do better but you do not spend over £70 Million on a player that is a work in progress, you spend that sort of money to get results and today he was found wanting.
Conclusion
A damning verdict on all three I will admit and I have high hopes that Ceballos and Pepe will do better as the season unfolds but not with Luiz, I have consistently said he is a liability and he has proven me right in spectacular fashion.