Arsenal succumbed to a 1-0 defeat at Anfield, courtesy of a well-struck free kick from Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai, marking their first loss of the season.
The result leaves Gooners frustrated.
Sometimes things do not go to plan, and for Arsenal, leaving Merseyside with a defeat was certainly not part of the script. That said, there was plenty to unpack from this game.
Questionable Arteta selections
With Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka both sidelined, Arsenal were without their creative heartbeat. Mikel Arteta had no excuse for leaving Eberechi Eze out of the starting XI. He could have provided the spark Arsenal sorely missed in the absence of Saka and Odegaard.
A midfield trio of Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice, and Mikel Merino looked far too defensive to generate the chances needed to win at Anfield. With that midfield setup, Arsenal lacked an attacking threat.
Ahead of the game, Eze was hyped to be the game-changer. His creativity was expected to give Arsenal the edge against Liverpool. The way Arsenal were set up, one cannot help but feel Arteta fielded a side not to lose rather than one designed to win.
Mixed fortunes for Zubimendi and Mosquera
Arsenal’s long wait for a league win at Anfield continues, as they last won there in 2012. Notably, this defeat marks the end of their six-match unbeaten run against Liverpool in the Premier League. It also snaps their 22-game unbeaten streak against the traditional big six.
Martin Zubimendi endured a difficult evening. He looked a shadow of his usual self, winning just one of eight ground duels, failing to make a single tackle, getting dribbled past three times, and committing three fouls. His poor performance held Arsenal back, with some Gooners left wishing Thomas Partey was still available.
Thrown into the action early after William Saliba’s injury, summer recruit Cristhian Mosquera stepped up admirably. The Spaniard delivered elite box defending and kept Hugo Ekitike quiet throughout. His numbers speak volumes:
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85 minutes played
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51 passes
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90% pass accuracy
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4 tackles
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2 blocked shots
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3 clearances
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4/5 duels won
He was arguably the most positive takeaway from the match.
Looking ahead, three points have been dropped and Arsenal will be itching to get back in action, but the international break stands in their way. It has come at the worst possible time. Still, this is a chance to regroup and return stronger, with a tough clash against Nottingham Forest looming. Forest, fresh off a 3-0 defeat to West Ham, will also be desperate to respond.
Daniel O
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Empty Handed Arteta has spent over 1 billion signing over 30 expensive players to build his team.
There is adequate cover in every position for injuries and rotation.
The positive is we have high quality players old and new. The negative is still the rigid tactics.
Mosquera had a really good game.
Timber and Calafiori both played well at fullback.
The midfield was far too defensive with zero creativity.
Rice was our biggest time waster taking ages at corners.
Gyökeres was invisible, but if no one gives him the ball what do you expect?
Martinelli played his usual head down game running into blind alleys.
Madueke was bright, direct and looked up for it, but Arteta reined him in by visibly telling him from the touchline to calm down and not play so far up the pitch.
Arteta got his tactics completely wrong and is turning us into the most boring team in the PL.
Good summary GB, agree all of that.
Sad to see Martinelli so low on confidence. Hopefully gets new lease of life as an impact player. Madueke together should change things up, make up for lack of pace elsewhere.
Hopefully we don’t suffer any international break injuries,
Next game Martinelli needs taking out the firing line, Trossard or Eze must be given the start
Arteta is a fool for the line up and bringing on super max that late make him a clown so he wants him to win penalty for him right?
I cant believe arteta hasn’t changed playing cower.
He really let us all down, we are arsenal, we should be attacking from start, instead he kept our ammunitions on seat.
I will start hoping for his sack if he ever come up with such filty line up and more importantly martinelli should be released or exiled ASAP if they can’t find any suitor, he’s an anchor he’s been slowing us down and now he’s shutting us down
Martinelli is a highly talented player and he should have left to develop elsewhere because he is stagnant under Arteta.
But with that huge salary and no pressure to deliver he is living a modern footballer dream.
You can bring in as many new players as you like, but when you have a manager so averse to attacking football, should we really be surprised with away performances like this.
He clearly set the team up to not lose the game, rather than trying to win the game. Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t say go gung-ho at Liverpool, but you’ve got to show more ambition than we showed in this game.
Before the game there were comments like we’re going to make a statement, well just what kind of statement was that. Two away performances not to be proud of. We got away with one at United if we’re honest, had United attack taken their chances we would be in a worse position.
Until this manager goes back to the free flowing football of the 2022/2023 season, we aren’t going to win the League for yet another season.
It’s only three games in I know, but start playing more positively Arteta, or sod off and lets get someone else in who will.
Totally agree derek we buy a world class striker and improved our attacking line up and are still playing tippy tippy football in our own half and try to win the game with set pieces. It’s starting to get embarrassing
Eze wasn’t ready to start at Anfield, because he just joined us and he didn’t have time to gel with his new teammates
He’d likely play ahead of Martinelli against Nottingham Forest
Oh come on GAI it’s not like he hadn’t played, he’d been playing for Palace and had trained all week
@Gai the EZE I saw in a cameo against Liverpool doesn’t look unprepared. He has enough Epl experience.
Arteta can also use EZE Rice Odegard in midfield. Or EZE Rice Zubimendi.
He shouldn’t be too loyal to some players. The best of EZE isn’t really at the wings but left midfield.
With all the arsenals of players at Arteta’s disposal there isn’t excuse. Epl waits for no one Arsenal have to start picking points.
@gotanidea,,, you talk so much gibberish with your gotanideas. Eze was 💯 % match fit. Eze is a natural number 10 creator. He’s not a left wing player. He never has been. He does drift left, but always reverts runs back into the middle of the pitch. You seem to be infatuated with left footed players, defenders being inverted, perverted(😱), extroverted, and players that are tall. Have you ever observed Eze’s HEAT MAP over the last 3 seasons. Obviously you have not. Arteta’s line-up was strictly to achieve a drawn result. That’s Mikel Arteta’s match plan. He will use that tactic away to Manchester City and at Newcastle. All managers in the Premier League have worked this CLOWN 🤡 out. He’s been given the tools of trade to get the job done,,,,, but this 15 million pounds manager a year constantly applies the hand brake to his players. It’s only a matter of time that players will get sick of hearing his voice. They will start laying down tools and not want to play for this manager. And why was William Saliba played when he rolled his ankle pre match?????????? Where’s the DUTY OF CARE towards one of your best central defender player’s??????? You’ve had White, Saka, and Havertz all have major surgery from being overly played and run into the ground, all now back injured. Mikel Arteta is still acting like a ROOKIE COACH. Has he learnt anything from his previous mistakes????? Obviously no is the answer. Some of you so-called TOP GOONERS seem to give Mikel Arteta a free MEAL TICKET all of the time. Way too many ARTETA SEXUALS roaming this world allowing this manager get away with murder. This Liverpool team this weekend were there for the taking. And what does Arteta do???? Ah,,, that’s right boys,,,, “LET’S PLAY NOT TO LOSE”. Mikel Arteta refuses to play one touch, two touch football. That’s not in his DNA. The man ( if one can describe him as one), has no ability whatsoever to coach players that. He was never that as a player himself at all. He was bang average. He reminded me of a Darlek from DR WHO gliding sideways and backwards. I did initially back this manager at the beginning of his tenure at Arsenal and got hammered for it. I also backed the signing of Martin Odegaard after his loan spell. And what a huge error in judgement from myself. Mikel Arteta is the Ringmaster of the circus, Martin Odegaard is the performing clown 🤡 on a puppet string. He does more hair flicks and blowing snot out of his nose than completing forward passes
Totally on the money with your observations pjennings. The defeat against Liverpool hurts more post game because some of us know that Arteta won’t learn and will stubbornly cling to what is looking like a dead end scenario. Everyone saw, Saliba shake his head and within seconds Mosquero was stripped down and on the field. Why did Arteta even contemplate risking a key asset? Then their is the game plan, after 70 minutes everyone was beginning to feel comfortable with a 0-0 point at Anfield, dumb and dumber when we had so many recourses on the bench to swing the moment. And people call him a novice coach after six seasons and an open check book. Also another defender joining us. No problems with a specialised attacking wing back but I maximising available talent what is wrong in encouraging Martinelli to seriously take on that position since he almost plays like one and then bringing in another attacking option, preferably a high energy , creative midfielder who is not afraid to shoot. The list of gripes could continue but this is a make or break season for Arteta and our club’s future direction.
Given Liverpool’s dodgy defence, I thought we’d take advantage of it. So Iwas really surprised seeing Eze on the bench. I’m sorry but my heart sank when I saw the line-up and knew we hadn’t gone there to win. For me, that was a massive chance missed and wonder if it will come back to bite us later on down the line
Morning Sue,
I totally agree with your post. Playing three defensive midfielders, and don’t forget we were meant to be putting down a statement in this game apparently.
What statement was that then?. 🤦♂️🤷♂️🤔
Hi Derek we’ve spent all that money and still can’t score a goal statement? 😂 I’m so p****d off, I thought we’d go there and take the game to them. They’d let in 4 goals already and we gave them a clean sheet! 🤬 For once I’m glad the break is here 😂😅
Sue,
Your right, to not even try to have ago is frustrating to put it mildly. The owners have given Arteta the ammo, but he refuses to shoot. 😂👍
It’s unacceptable, Derek
Like many have been saying our midfield set up was not brave enough. Merino has been scapegoated rightfully so but one player people are refusing to criticize is Zubimendi. He was out of his depths yesterday. Easily outmuscled and overran. Gravenberch schooled him yesterday. Many will refuse to admit but we missed a Partey type player yesterday. I’m sorry to say this but if this continues then that will be a big problem in the future.
But luckily for us, one good thing is that our academy has spawned great talents recently. Saka, Nwaneri, MLS, Downman. And luckily for us we have spawned a generational defensive midfielder in Ife Ibrahim. Ife Ibrahim is a combination of Viera, Yaya Toure, Diaby and Partey. Besides Downman, if managed right he will be the best generational talent we would develop lately and that says a lot about him for a player who plays defensive midfield.
Arteta shall not see him, with his preferred choices (of Rice, Zubimendi and Merino) still donning Arsenal shirts!
lol, I really hope Ife Ibrahim is groomed right. Reason being that all these years I don’t think Hale End has ever produced a generational defensive midfielder. But Ife Ibrahim’s case is so different and is so unique. He’s an absolute monster. If groomed right I predict that in 3 year he would displace Zubimendi from the first 11. That’s how highly I rate him
he should have started with only one DM in my opinion, play Eze at 8 and Odegaard at 10, create as many chances as possible for Gyokeres, the guy knows where the back of the net is, after all this is Liverpool if we lose while trying our best to win it is understandable.
But that one defensive midfielder can not be Zubimendi. He has been found out already in the Premier league. He is NOT a defensive midfielder.
If Arteta maintained the free and attacking football of 22/23, we would have won the EPL at least once, then he would have a free ticket to be 2nd or third for another 4 years. But by playing not to loose, he will continue to loose
Arteta got it wrong and it cost us 3 points! and probably a lot of snickering from Liverpool and Tottenham fans, especially Tottenham after snatching Eze from under their noses and he doesn’t even start!
£300 million spent and he leaves the talent he asked for sitting on the bench! What an insult to the players, Berta and the Board who have backed him all the way. AND what about his statement – “We are not going to be predictable anymore”! What were we yesterday? Predictable.
What will it take for Arteta to finally admit that Martinelli is not Premiership material and should be moved on for his own sake and Merino should no longer be 1st choice. Perhaps we need new Trainers/Advisers to as the current ones do not seem to have any new game plan ideas. Same old set pieces!
Yesterday should have been Arsenal’s day to finally beat Liverpool, who currently are not at their best, but Arteta did not have the conviction or the “gamble” in him to keep Liverpool at bay. He put a team out that could only defend because of Arsenal’s weak Midfield and Forward. Madueke was left to do it all once he got the ball and credit must be given to him for doing such a good job on his own.
Arsenal also need to be careful re Nwaneri and Skelly. Both may ask to leave as they were promised new positions and much game time if they re-signed and so far that has not happened. Broken promises? We all know what that leads to!
If Arteta continues like this, then I fear he must be replaced for the sake of the players and the club.
A totally wrong team to start. 3 defensive midfielders and NO creative spark. Although Odergaards spark has gone completely, anyway. Substitutions at the wrong time, did nothing to make us better. The time wasting, slow corners and free kicks is embarrassing and sends out the WRONG signals. We went with a mindset of a draw and our manager has to be blamed because the Substitutions didn’t change that narrative. The football going forward is garbage, its slow, its lacking ANY imagination and we do not create hardly anything. This type of football has blighted our campaigns and is going to do so again. Artetas tactics or lack of are blinding. We ain’t winning anything again this season. He is taking more out of this team/squad, than is being put in.
And how it doesn’t worry people that, instead of putting quality early crosses into to box, we would rather, look to play for a corner. I find that embarrassing and a total lack of understanding of top class football. To want to win a corner instead of quality attacking football, we want to win a corner. Absolutely garbage tactics. Instructing our players they should not go forwards and play it back, is lacking ambition and basic know how. Its embarrassing, the way we play at times. And we get what we deserve in the end. Nothing!!!
@Reggie, I get your point, our attacking flair has diminished with these new ultra defensive tactics of MA. Saw the highlights of Sp*rs vs Bournemouth and I was left awed by the attacking display of Bournemouth resulting in 19 shots and 6 or 7 of them on goal. Their attacking play was so fluid and mesmerizing, reminded me of how Arsenal used to play back then.
MA has got to find the right balance in his approach, being too defensive and almost always relying on set pieces to score goals is not good enough for a club like Arsenal with a pedigree for attacking, entertaining, high goal scoring football.
Arteta has been overprotected by the board and media, the lack of trophies despite years of investment and patience suggests he’s not the man to take Arsenal to the very top.
If someone is the second-longest-serving manager in the league, yet others with shorter spells and supposedly weaker squads already have trophies, what excuse will you tell us? Arteta Must Go!
I have always supported Arteta but now it is getting serious with doubts, especially after all the money that has been spent.
He has two weeks to get “a grip” before the Home fixture against Forest. Let’s see what he does and if he has learnt a lesson over Liverpool.
No excuses as Saka and Saliba are no longer on International Duty, so two less to worry about injuries.
After that, if the same old Arsenal then he must go!
I’m sorry, everyone, but I have to be realistic: it looks like second place will be our position again. From what I saw of Liverpool, they were a very controlled side—organized, and in the second half, showing urgency and determination to win.
In contrast, our team lacked the drive to push for a goal. In the final 10 minutes, we had two or three chances in front of the geal, yet instead of taking a shot and seeing what might happen, the players kept hesitating—dancing with the ball and moving at a frustratingly aimless pace.
And why on earth does nobody pass to Gyökeres? I’ve also never understood why, since Wenger’s time, all Arsenal managers insist on making substitutions so late. It’s baffling—changes rarely come before the 70th or 75th minute, and even then, the positions remain virtually the same.
The talk of Eze as a LW is misplaced. Eze is a midfielder – 8 or 10. Rice should drop to 6 while Zube should drop to the bench to create an attacking fluidity. Or Ode should alternate with Eze in some games. Zube is a talented player but not yet PL matured. We will miss Partey for sometimes.
I’m honestly surprised that most aren’t pointing out Madueke’s performance yesterday. For me he was the stand out performer yesterday. If only Arteta had the gonads to play Eze on the left we would have had Liverpool under pressure and quite likely fragile? As it was, our lack of attack saw Liverpool grow into the game and ultimately put the pressure on our defense. Zubimendi will need time to adapt. As will all our new additions.
Agree, thought he was excellent. Fast, direct, created chances. Promising.
Yes, I have my doubts about Madouke because his runs are wasted and usually only lead to a corner, but I hope he continues to play like he did at Anfield and prove me wrong.