3 standout players from Arsenal's disappointing defeat to Liverpool

Arsenal fans have been generally critical of Mikel Arteta's refusal to play a more attacking brand of football at Anfield yesterday. Their safety-first approach to a game that could have been there for the taking had many shaking their head as a moment of class condemned the Gunners to their first defeat of the season.

Although it's still early days of a long campaign, there was much to learn not only from the performance itself but from the cautious approach that Mikel Arteta continues to take in these big games.

In a match that should have seen Arsenal go toe-to-toe with the champions and unleash the majority of the £181 million worth of firepower they have spent this summer, Mikel Arteta opted to turn instead to the players that he had paid so much to replace.

In an act of undeniable loyalty to players who have served him well against Liverpool in the past, Arteta started Mikel Merino ahead of Ebereche Eze and Gabriel Martinelli on the left despite the Brazilian's very poor start to the season.

The result was a match in which the two title-contenders largely cancelled each other out until Szoboszlai's stunning free-kick gifted all three points to Liverpool.

1. Noni Madueke

Noni Madueke was unlucky not to come away with at least a goal at Anfield. The speedster had the beating of Milos Kerkez in a foot race and almost got in behind the Hungarian on a couple of ocassions.

A threat throughout, Madueke had three shots at goal. His first effort was on target but lacked the power to beat the Liverpool keeper.

Kerkez, who it must be said had a good game, made up for what he lacked in pace against Madueke with excellent positioning, strength and good timing in the challenge. His block to prevent Madueke's next effort took the sting out of a shot that looked goal-bound.

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