Arsenal abysmal in Liverpool defeat as Arteta watches character crumble

Arsenal were comfortably beaten by Liverpool in a 3-0 Premier League defeat that will go down as one of the worst performances under Mikel Arteta.

Starting with the positives, of which there were none but it’s worth trying to inject some light into the dark pit that this display left Arsenal, Thomas Partey showed the progressive qualities supporters have wanted to see and Gabriel had moments of encouragement.

That’s it. And even those two were poor for the majority of the night. Gabriel in particular making errors for two goals and Partey losing his touch drastically in the second half.

Now the rest, of which there is so much to unpack.

Arsenal abysmal in Liverpool defeat as Mikel Arteta watches character crumble

Technically it was men against boys as Liverpool’s midfield trio dictated everything, keeping the ball from Arsenal and using their full-backs to keep Nicolas Pepe and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang pinned back into their own half.

Whenever the ball rarely made its way to an Arsenal foot, total disbelief struck each player as the confidence visibly drained with the next motion an afterthought of fear. No composure, identity or willingness was evident. Arsenal forgot who they were, and who the opposition was.

This was a Liverpool side with six points from their last eight fixtures. Arsenal played as if that was the case. Seeking grittier mental toughness from the players, any movement across the turf was done with a frail arrogance: ‘we can turn up in first gear and see out a result’. That’s not toughness, that’s weakness.

Having played the best 45 minutes of football all season in the second half against West Ham, the ‘face’ Arteta spoke of was on show. Only it was the one from the opening 30 minutes.

The manager is not excused. Admitting the performance was ‘my fault’, while the player reactions he can not fully account for, opting to field Pepe and Aubameyang out wide which does nothing for progressive build-up play and having Alexandre Lacazette up top when counter-attacks were all Arsenal could muster perplexed.

It was shameful. Inexcusable.

There was no effort, no pride of the badge. It’s ended Arsenal’s Premier League campaign with eight matches to go and put the weight of the world on everyone at the club on Thursday.

By all means lose to better opposition. But don’t throw the towel in before the first punch.