Arsenal 0-2 Liverpool: 4 positives from Carabao Cup exit

Everyone was up for this. Players, staff and fans alike. In the end, all the energy and determination couldn’t be channeled into a winning performance, and Arsenal fell short.

Belief had began to build in those opening stages. Arsenal honed in on Liverpool’s weakest tools, with turnovers in dangerous areas forcing mistakes from the visitors that had Mikel Arteta’s side firmly in the ascendancy.

Jota’s goal was a cruel blow to that early optimism. It most certainly came against the run of play.

Goals, as they say, change games, and from thereon in there only appeared to be one winner. Liverpool got a firm grip of the tie, particularly in midfield, and Fabinho put in one of his usual dominant performances that wrestled control Liverpool’s way.

Arsenal 0-2 Liverpool: 4 positives from Carabao Cup exit as Mikel Arteta’s side turn attentions to Premier League top four charge

Arsenal huffed and puffed. They did so in effort, just as they did literally. Even in the first half it became apparent that match fitness and sharpness was missing in large portions of the pitch, with Takehiro Tomiyasu in particular struggling with the pace of the game.

Disappointment is the overriding emotion. It’s hard not be deflated at any point where you’re within one match of reaching a cup final. But it is what it is, and there can be no complaints over the scoreline and eventual winners.

It was not all doom and gloom, though, despite the one-sided nature of the game.

While some of the positive aspects are more byproducts of the performance as opposed to actually performance-related, in instances as these it is worth extracting the more constructive elements that can be built on. Four spring to mind.

1. Martin Odegaard is an Exceptional Footballer

It never grows tiring raving about this Arsenal team. Whether it be the unity within the club or collective displays, each time there is something to herald it is worth heralding.

Gabriel Martinelli drew unprompted praise from Jurgen Klopp after the game. He said ‘remember the name’, having previously labelled him as the ‘talent of the century’. When is the bid coming in for him to replace Mane or Salah then?

But without upsetting ourselves over what may be, let us instead comfort ourselves over what will be: Martin Odegaard is a truly special footballer and this club is lucky to have him.

Asked to play deeper in a role he is not as comfortable in due to his defensive deficiencies, he didn’t shy away from the responsibility and everything Arsenal produced on the night went through him.

His technical quality is unmissable. It demands your attention.

With the ball at feet he is a delight to watch and stopping just for a second to wonder how much better he can be when he’s 27 or 28 years old – like so many in this squad – puts a smile on your face. Without even so much as a training session he led everything on that pitch, vocally or otherwise.

What a player.

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