It is never nice to lose but if you can take some positives from defeat then it is not a total loss and Arsenal can certainly do that following the 3-1 defeat at Anfield against Liverpool.
It is easy to point out the mistakes when your team loses, we have done that in abundance on here and rightfully so but to just be focussed on the negatives and ignore the positives serves no one and erodes any confidence that things can get better.
Nicolas Pepe
He did not have the best game and should have scored but the fact that he got into that position in the first place and the lightening speed he unleashed showed that he will have a huge impact this season. It is easy to do it against the smaller teams but Arsenal need him to do it against the big teams and the signs were clearly there yesterday that he will do exactly that as the season progresses.
Joe Willock
I made him the man of the match yesterday but reading some of the comments on here you would have thought he had a nightmare game but I just did not see it like that. I saw a player in adverse conditions try his heart out, he attempted to push forward at every opportunity, he was not negative like Xhaka and Guendouzi and he certainly was not anonymous like Ceballos. He is very young but is growing into his role and if Unai Emery continues to show faith in the 20-year-old we will reap the rewards.
Lucas Torreira
When he came on the game was basically over but he did make a difference even though Liverpool took their foot off the gas, he showed energy and ambition but most of all he showed a fighting spirit even though it was a lost cause. He should have been on from the start and it is inconceivable that he does not start against Tottenham next week. If Emery takes anything from the game it must surely be that he needs the Uruguayan in the midfield in the big matches.