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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Midfielders

Bukayo Saka (RM) – 6/10 – The man most involved in Arsenal’s midfield, Saka saw a lot of possession in comparison to the rest of his teammates, especially in the first half. Made some lovely out to in runs and helped open up some of the few chances the visitors had. Barely got a sniff as the clock ticked on.

Thomas Partey (CM) – 5/10 – A game where everyone was pining for Partey to be involved was one where he ended looking off the pace. In the opening 12 minutes, for example, he touched the ball just once.

As demanding as it is playing in midfield and Anfield, Arsenal needed something more from central areas with Partey unable to get any foothold on the game. There was not enough confidence from him on the ball.

Albert Sambi Lokonga (CM) – 5/10 – Sambi really stood out as someone not overawed by the occasion or the team he was facing in the opening 45 minutes. Having looked composed without much in the way of creativity, after the break some dreadful sloppiness crept into his game after the break, forcing his withdrawal.

Emile Smith Rowe (LM) – 5/10 – Another player who was not involved enough on the night, most of the threat Arsenal posed came down the right and Smith Rowe was left feeding off scraps for large spells of the match.

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Forwards

Alexandre Lacazette (ST) – 6/10 – Started off like a house on fire as he got in the faces of Liverpool to set the tone. There were a few silly fouls given away in his own half that were as a result of his combativeness and as the game drifted closer and closer to the Arsenal goal he became a peripheral figure.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (ST) – 5/10 – Excellent energy from the skipper who is a transformed player this season with his endeavour, only on this occasion there was nothing for him to feed off.

He had one chance when Lacazette played him in brilliantly but was otherwise anonymous on the night.

Substitutes

Ainsley Maitland-Niles – 5/10 – Wasn’t composed in possession and didn’t add anything to the midfield once he came on.

Martin Odegaard – 5/10 – Completely anonymous as Liverpool cut through Arsenal with ease, and he didn’t get any chances on the ball to impact the game.

Mohamed Elneny – N/A – Came on to shore things up and make sure…..it wouldn’t be five?