Liverpool back in top four contention after win at Arsenal

Premier League: Liverpool back in top four contention after win at Arsenal

 

Pepe in flight as he contests against Robertson in Liverpool's 3-0 win at the Emirates. (Photo credit: Premierleague.com)

Mikel Arteta, the Arsenal manager admitted he was "in shock" after his side were destroyed in a 3-0 home defeat by Liverpool in the Premier League on Saturday.

 Arteta's side barely laid a glove on the visitors and were undone by two second-half goals by Diogo Jota and one by Mohammed Salah, although the margin of defeat could have been bigger and even without Arsenal seeing the sights of the Liverpool goal.

 

It left Arsenal down in ninth spot and Arteta with much to ponder after his 50th league game in charge produced a display he described as one of the worst in his tenure.

The first half had ended goalless although with the hosts feeling lucky and not a single neutral would understand how it stayed level at the break and it was down to resolute Arsenal defending and some wayward finish from Liverpool’s front men.

Jurgen Klopp rang changes early in the second half and his substitute Diogo Jota headed Liverpool in front from a pinpoint Trent Alexander Arnold cross with Bernd Leno getting a hand to it but couldn’t keep it out.

Gabriel would feel he should have done better with Liverpool’s second, his failed attempt to clear the danger at Salah’s feet left the Egyptian one on one with Leno and there was only one outcome… 2-0.

Liverpool’s inexperienced defense wasn’t really tested, there was no gut in the Arsenal ranks and the front three couldn’t even get a sniff of the ball to work with, for once Martin Odegaard was isolated and this cut off supplies to the front men.

Arsenal suffered another injury blow to Kieran Tierney and that could prove costly with David Luiz already ruled out for a while with knee problems; Jota slammed in the third with eight minutes to play after another horrific Arsenal defending saw Mane rolled one into the path of the Portuguese.

"We completely deserved to lose the game. They were better in every department and deserved to win the game with the margin they had, or even more," the Spaniard said.

"I accept responsibility for the way we played today. It is my fault. I have to set the team up to perform in a different way and that is it. At the moment I am in shock.

"I didn't expect that because of the way the team trained. It is a challenge. A challenge brings an opportunity. If you have courage and you represent a club like this, you have to stand up and take it."

Arteta's win percentage in the league from his first 50 games in charge is only 42%, compared to his predecessor Unai Emery's 49% from his 51 games at the helm.

While Arsenal have improved defensively under Arteta, the attacking flair they were once known for has been replaced by a cautious and often timid approach that was painfully evident against Liverpool.

"I don't know if it was the worst but probably one of the worst," Arteta said of the performance.

"We gave every ball away we could not put three passes together. There were too many simple things not done right. The basics weren't there today.

"We want to apologize, to our people and our fans. This is nowhere near what we want and we have to do better."