Arsenal player ratings vs Liverpool: Jota ends Carabao Cup dream

Arsenal crashed out at the semi-final stage against Liverpool on Thursday night as a brace from Diogo Jota booked Jurgen Klopp’s side a place in the Carabao Cup final.

Mikel Arteta welcomed back a number of players from various absences for the second leg, having seen his side have a request to postpone their Premier League clash with Tottenham accepted due to being unable field the number of players required.

The biggest talking point pre-match in terms of selections was who would line up in midfield alongside Albert Sambi Lokonga with no other options available, an issue Arteta sought to fix by bringing Martin Odegaard into the centre to partner him centrally.

Emile Smith Rowe operated as the No. 10, Takehiro Tomiyasu returned at right-back after his own injury absence and, just 48 hours after his AFCON exit, Thomas Partey was on the bench.

Arsenal player ratings vs Liverpool as Jota nets twice to end the Carabao Cup dream for Gunners who lose 2-0 in semi-final

A lively start saw Lacazette strike the bar from an early free-kick, with Joel Matip seeing a goal disallowed for offside not long after. However, against the run of play, Liverpool did see a goal stand when a fine run by Jota finished with him squirming an effort beyond Ramsdale.

Arsenal lost their way after Jota’s strike and struggled to create or build play centrally, with Martinelli the standout threat before the half-time whistle.

Lacazette spurned a glorious chance shortly after the second half began when he blazed over, in what was one of precious few opportunities for the hosts.

With Arsenal pushing for an equaliser they were eventually killed off when Jota broke the offside trap to dink an effort over the onrushing Ramsdale. Originally ruled offside, VAR confirmed the goal. The visitors deserved their win, but it ends the Gunners’ dreams of silverware on a disappointing night in north London. Partey’s red card really hammered the final nail in. No Burnley for him.

Goalkeeper & Defenders

Aaron Ramsdale (GK) – 5/10 – Very little to do other than picking the ball out of the net, and on a night where his long kicking was more prevalent than his short distribution, he did OK. However, Jota’s first effort was slow and straight down the middle and he should have done better, while he was too hesitant for the second.

Too erratic. A poor outing for him.

Takehiro Tomiyasu (RB) – 4/10 – A (very) tough night for Tomiyasu on his return to the side. He looked off the pace from the first minute and wasn’t in his usual physically dominant self. Very clearly not at 70%, let alone 100%. He suffered out there.

Benjamin White (CB) – 6/10 – Had one or two nervy moments and with central spaces so compact it left White needing to go long, where his lofted passes weren’t quite right.

Gabriel (CB) – 6/10 – It was a similar story for Gabriel whose distribution bordered too finely into interception territory, as he also lacked some crispness with the ball at feet.

Kieran Tierney (LB) – 7/10 – Arsenal’s best defender on the night. Tierney combined well with Martinelli down the left side which is where near enough all of Arsenal’s threat came from.

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