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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Midfielders

Albert Sambi Lokonga (CM) – 6/10 – Was a passenger for large spells with the midfield being overrun. Showed some great aggression and physicality to get into duels, but without a partner he can’t impose himself and gets lost. Could’ve zipped his passes that millisecond faster even if he improved after the break.

Martin Odegaard (CM) – 7/10 – Arsenal’s leader on the pitch. Odegaard was the man trying to control the game with the ball at feet and out of possession.

Just imagine when he’s 27 years of age. He’s magnificent.

Emile Smith Rowe (AM) – 5/10 – Clearly very rusty. He got lost in this setup playing most often in the inside left channel. With the way the team was shaped it meant he couldn’t get on the ball with the play coming from deep and Lacazette shifting out to the right to aid Saka.

He was dead on his feet.

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Forwards

Bukayo Saka (RW) – 6/10 – Was marked out of the game by Liverpool’s left side, forcing Lacazette to drift over and try to help with presence.

When you are as dangerous as Saka is, other teams act accordingly.

Alexandre Lacazette (ST) – 4/10 – That second half miss illustrates why Arsenal need a new striker.

Struggled to get into the game with him looking visibly frustrated at points when he felt like the only one pressing. Very little of Arsenal’s play was built centrally and it nullified him in the game as he ended up drifting into positions out on the right.

Gabriel Martinelli (LW) – 7/10 – A machine on and off the ball, Martinelli’s aggression was a constant thorn in Liverpool’s defence during the first half with Joel Matip – who was hauled off at half-time – in particular having real trouble dealing with his trickery and pace.

Liverpool recognised his threat and constantly had three men on him. It was 3v1 every time. Martinelli was one of the few who was at the required technical level.

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Substitutes

Eddie Nketiah – N/A – Not really worth mentioning.

Thomas Partey – 4/10 – He landed in London at midday. The fact he was even there at all was remarkable. Well, we wish he hadn’t. That red card rules him out of the Burnley game.

What a massive, massive setback.