Mikel Arteta came to Liverpool to snatch victory for Arsenal when he should have come to grab it.
I went into the match with Liverpool with a real sense of optimism that the Gunners might be able to pull off their first win on Merseyside since 2012. However, that evaporated the moment the line-up was announced.
It is not that I dislike Mikel Merino; in fact, I rate him personally as a very good footballer and a valuable part of the team. That said, the midfield structure was not that of a team that wanted to go to Liverpool and make a statement.
Arsenal haev spent a lot of money and invested a lot of time in developing their attacking talent. Eberechi Eze, who signed from Crystal Palace more than a week ago, is fit and ready to play on the bench.
Of course, Martin Odegaard is not fit to start the game, but his established number two from pre-season, Ethan Nwaneri, is an unused substitute. If Arteta is willing to bring on 15-year-old Max Dowman to help win the game in the final minutes, why not have the same faith in a player three years older than the teenager from the start?
I absolutely understand the theory; it is not lost on me in any way. Liverpool are the best team in transition and the middle third is vital to have a foothold in during these games.
That being said, it’s a Liverpool team who have looked vulnerable in all their games so far this season. There are weaknesses, gaps and frailties that Arsenal failed to exploit efficiently or show a burning desire to consistently want to test.
It’s a shame because the discourse from pundits and sadly some within the Arsenal fanbase will reach a hyperbole as a result. We know Arteta can manage sides to huge wins against the biggest of sides be that Real Madrid, Manchester City, PSG, or, of course, Liverpool too, but, as I’ve said, in this moment he felt, without several key players, he had to come to Anfield to snatch a victory rather than to grab it.
It is still important to discuss the mitigating factors because if you thought the injuries were bad last season, three games into the new one and it is already something of a joke. No Bukayo Saka, no Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard not fit to start, Leandro Trossard suffering an issue midweek, William Saliba is taken off inside a couple of minutes and Ben White, Christian Norgaard and Gabriel Jesus all out too. It’s bad, it’s utterly crazy how many injuries have been suffered.
But I do not agree with Arteta’s response to my question post-match regarding whether, in hindsight, his midfield selection was too conservative. Here’s how the question was phrased: “In the first half, you had a lot more joy than Liverpool in terms of turnovers, chances, touches in the box, but it was also the half where you perhaps had less of your offensive attacking players in the team. Do you feel as though, in hindsight, that the midfield was maybe slightly too conservative for the chances that you created? “
To which Arteta replied: “Well, that's what we had. Martin Odegaard was injured, Kai cannot play, Merino is a player that is incredible arriving from there.
“We played with three attacking players, two attacking full-backs. After the game, I think it's too easy to say that.”
Did Merino arrive in the box, at the end of a chance? I don’t think so.
So, while it’s completely fair to highlight this asset of Merino’s to arrive in these threatening positions, the performance, the strategy, and the game plan did not provide a situation where Merino got into such a position in the game.
Arteta is right, it is easy for anyone to sit back having watched the game and suggest that the midfield was too conservative after the game has been lost. Had Szoboszlai’s free kick hit the post an inch to the left the game might’ve ended a draw or Arsenal might have even stolen a win.
But that was what there was only ever a chance of happening, Arsenal stealing a win, rather than going to Anfield, to a vulnerable Liverpool side as shown by their opening two games and going for it. They didn’t and even despite the absences in the squad,they could have, but they didn’t.
However, it would be remiss of me not to mention the positive performances of the afternoon. Arteta is right about the full-backs. I thought both Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori had excellent games.
There was much talk about whether the Italian could cope with Mohamed Salah, but he did so well throughout. He made several important recovery challenges and displayed composed jockeying when inside the penalty box, standing up to the Egyptian.
Declan Rice, though, deserved so much more than he got from this game. He was ever-present throughout and ran the midfield ragged, and he must have been utterly broken by the full-time whistle.
Blocks, tackles, recovering interceptions and of course his driving runs. This here is why Mikel Merino’s selection was so unnecessary, because when you have players like Rice and Martin Zubimendi as your midfield pivot, and a defence as solid as Arsenal’s, you can throw Ethan Nwaneri in at Anfield, or give Eberechi Eze a trial by fire on his debut.
Cristhian Mosquera came in to replace the injured Saliba. This is the first extended period of game time he has had and it comes at Anfield, minutes into the biggest match of the campaign so far. He did excellently considering the circumstances. For £15million, he looks an absolute steal.
I thought Noni Madueke also had a good game, not a great game, considering the final actions were a little off, but he was dangerous. His speed is frightening and a breath of fresh air.
He created so many problems for Milos Kerkez, who did defend well. I would like to see him look for the cutbacks on the edge of the box, but overall, I was very pleased with his first game covering for Saka.
The big takeaway, though, is just how much better Eze looked in his short cameo compared to Gabriel Martinelli, who effectively played an advanced left-back role because the only positive things I have to say about him were in his defensive contributions. Eze can beat the players Martinelli can’t, can get into the positions the Brazilian can’t and can find the passes I wish the 24-year-old could.
Eze changes this team, and with Saka back in a few weeks, the potential for these two England internationals to partner as Arsenal’s new wingers is just mouthwatering. This could be what wins Arsenal the silverware they so crave.
The feeling is frustration and concern, but with a slice of reality and anticipation for the future. Beat Nottingham Forest, Manchester City, and Newcastle - which I firmly believe this side can - and the whole complexion changes. But to do that, Arsenal will need to play to win, then continue that and never sto. At Anfield, they simply didn’t and that’s why they came away with nothing.
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Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus with the Arsenal Therapy Dog Win during the Arsenal Men's team group shoot at London Colney on September 18, 2023
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