Arsenal vs Liverpool: 4 talking points from pathetic Arteta defeat

Arsenal were crushed 3-0 by Liverpool on Saturday night on one of the darkest days of Mikel Arteta’s reign as manager. Here are the talking points.

With the international break finally coming to an end, the no man’s land fans found themselves in would either result in a morale-boosting push over the line or a weak retreat back into their shells hoping San Marino vs England was still on.

Arsenal had the capability of putting in a strong performance and testing Liverpool just as they could easily embarrass themselves: the so-called ‘two faces’ of this team.

Within five minutes of kick-off it became apparent which face rose to the occasion.

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Arsenal vs Liverpool: 4 talking points as Mikel Arteta oversees pathetic defeat

The visitors were magnificent, with Thiago and Fabinho running the show from midfield and leaving Dani Ceballos in particular chasing shadows.

A meek, lifeless first half with no structure was a far cry from the storming second half show the Gunners put on in east London, and while woeful in every department, being level at the break offered the chance of a stirring improvement.

It was Liverpool who improved, and Arsenal who worsened.

Diogo Jota got the ball rolling, planting a header past Bernd Leno after a magnificent Trent Alexander-Arnold delivery, with Mohamed Salah giving Gabriel the slip to poke home and put the result beyond doubt.

Some more woeful defending saw Jota grab his second, as Arsenal bowed out with a performance that showed regression, not progression.

It was painful to watch.

Dani Ceballos Has His Worst Game in an Arsenal Shirt

Dani Ceballos was not to blame for Arsenal losing 3-0 on Saturday. Not one player can put their hands up and claim they played ‘well’, although the Spaniard’s worst display in a Gunners shirt throughout his near two years with the club stands out as it was a wonderful opportunity for him to rediscover himself.

Thomas Partey might as well have been playing by himself in midfield as Ceballos regularly held on to possession for too long, inviting Liverpool pressure and gifting the ball away. In his defence, all three goals came when he wasn’t on the pitch. If only that could save him from scorn.

Every tackle was challenged half-heartedly, every action seemingly working against Arsenal’s best wishes.

When Kieran Tierney went to ground in the first half, Arteta immediately called his countryman over to bark orders, none of which seemed to manifest in his disjointed thinking. He was given another run out after the break but to no avail.

The damage was done and the structure non-existent. There is no hope that his better qualities – of which there are few – can be of any use to Arsenal for the rest of the season without the baggage they come with.