Arsenal: 4 talking points from 4-0 defeat to Liverpool

Anfield has not been a happy hunting ground for Arsenal over the years and that trend continued on Saturday night. Liverpool was at their best in the second half as they put a young Gunners side to the sword to end their unbeaten run.

Setting up in the same shape that had brought success in recent fixtures, Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang led the line once more with Thomas Partey returning in midfield after recovering from injury.

We’d learn a lot from how the visitors approached the match and the decision to try and take the game to Liverpool by setting the backline high and cutting off passing lanes on the edge of the opponents’ box showed the confidence in the team.

While it brought no real joy in front of goal, it was a positive way for Arsenal to approach the game until the inevitable pressure began taking its toll.

4 talking points from heavy 4-0 defeat to Liverpool as Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal see Premier League unbeaten run come to an end

Sadly, after a relatively positive first 40 minutes, the Reds got the all-important breakthrough courtesy of Sadio Mane’s header. The second half would then be riddled with individual errors that cost Arsenal dearly, as they wilted under the Liverpool pressure.

In the end, the 4-0 scoreline was a reflection of a seasoned and well-drilled Liverpool team who got the game on their terms in the second half. For Mikel Arteta and his young side, it is a learning curve – and a steep one at that.

While many were not expecting a positive result, the signs were there early on that perhaps a point could be snatched, however, three goals in the second half from Diogo Jota, Mohamed Salah and Takumi Minamino secured a comfortable win for Jurgen Klopp’s men.

The match provided plenty of talking points and here they are.

1. Arsenal Inexperience Shone Through

Arteta had fielded the youngest starting lineup in the division in ten of the 11 Premier League matches, and the trip to Anfield was no different.

The first half showed some decent signs as they restricted Liverpool, keeping them relatively at arm’s length and dealing with any balls thrown into the box. However, inexperience eventually told, starting with Mane’s header as he was able to slip through between Gabriel and Tomiyasu to send the hosts on their way.

The second half was where the youthfulness of Arsenal came to light. Or, perhaps more fittingly, to dark.

In the opening five minutes Albert Sambi Lokonga, who has been one of Arsenal’s better players this season, was guilty of giving the ball away in dangerous areas on numerous occasions with some poor awareness and a general lack of quality.

Then there was Nuno Tavares who has been superb so far in his Arsenal career – so much so he kept his place over Kieran Tierney – falling short and showing that he too is still a raw talent. Twice the young Portuguese left-back gave the ball away in careless areas, with the most crucial of all seeing Arsenal pay the ultimate price as Jota danced and weaved around the backline to slot home Liverpool’s second to end the game as a contest.

Heads dropped and then structure was lost from there. These are young players who will learn from this, so there is no need to go overboard.

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