Arsenal player ratings vs Liverpool: Heavy 4-0 defeat

Arsenal saw their unbeaten run come to an end against Liverpool on Saturday as goals from Sadio Mane, Jota, Mohamed Salah and Takumi Minamino secured a 4-0 Premier League victory for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Mikel Arteta had some interesting selections to make for the game with pre-match concerns over Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Thomas Partey.

As ever though, the manager was keeping his cards close to his chest in an effort to psyche Liverpool out with both players starting in the 4-4-1-1 shape that has become commonplace of late.

The biggest call made was to keep Nuno Tavares in the team despite Kieran Tierney returning from injury over the international break. It’s testament to the defender’s performances that he had done nothing to deserve being dropped.

Arsenal player ratings vs Liverpool as goals from Sadio Mane, Jota, Mohamed Salah and Minamino secure 4-0 win in the Premier League for Klopp’s side

It was a really brave opening from Arsenal with the approach the signal of a team full of confidence in themselves and one another. There were not dangerous efforts to show for it, with Arteta’s feisty spat with Jurgen Klopp in turn working against the visitors.

Liverpool kicked into gear and were it not for Aaron Ramsdale would have been a couple of goals to the good, before Sadio Mane broke the deadlock after some lazy defending from a set piece.

Hoping for a fast start after the break, Arsenal looked off the pace with sloppy passing across the pitch. Unfortnately, it was one of those from Nuno that sent Jota through on goal, where he danced past a couple of challenges to roll the ball into an empty net.

Mohamed Salah wrapped up what was already assured with 18 minutes to go after Mane set him up, in what was a very tough second half for Arsenal as Minamino added gloss to the scoreline.

This is a young team that will learn a great deal from this.

Goalkeeper & Defenders

Aaron Ramsdale (GK) – 7/10 – This is someone who loves being a goalkeeper. Absolutely revels in it. On this occasion, and not for the first time, Arsenal had Ramsdale to thank for some key saves, which if it weren’t for those would have made the scoreline even more frightening. Not often someone conceding four scores a seven.

Takehiro Tomiyasu (RB) – 6/10 – Was getting chopped up by Mane time and time again without the referee giving blatant free-kicks in Tomiyasu’s favour. On the night he defended his side well enough but couldn’t contribute a great deal in the final third when he got into those positions.

Benjamin White (CB) – 6/10 – Every cross into the box was batted away by the head of White in that first half as he showed willingness and leadership at the back. Had looked solid for large spells but, as with the rest of the team, structure and shape fell apart after the second goal.

Gabriel (CB) – 6/10 – You would trust Gabriel with your life savings on most days, and while he positioned himself poorly for Mane’s goal, most of the rest of his performance was solid up until everything fell apart with the second goal.

Nuno Tavares (LB) – 5/10 – Everything from Nuno had been so positive up until the horror moment in the second half. It was such a shame as he’d done well up until then, but it was a mistake which led to a goal that killed the game and after that he fell apart for the whole second half.

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