A mauling from a major rival isn’t the best way for Arsenal to prepare for a tough run of fixtures.
Here’s five lessons we learned from Arsenal’s 5-1 defeat at Liverpool:
Mertesacker and Koscielny aren’t ‘invincible’
After 31 games without defeat when the two have played together, it came as some surprise that they both performed so poorly against Liverpool. A hallmark of that record was the unflappable partnership and flawless positioning of the two, yet to witness their showing at Anfield would be to wonder how it would be possible for Arsenal to ever win a game.
Pulled all over the place by the running and pace of the Liverpool attack, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will be hoping that the confidence of his two previously untouchable centre backs has not been irrevocably knocked-back.
Arsene Wenger must regret not pushing harder for Luis Suarez
Suarez led the line, and his team, superbly against Arsenal, and it’s amazing to think that Wenger and Arsenal only felt the player was worth £1 over his supposed release clause of £40m. Why, for example, didn’t the London club go back in for the player with a larger bid once it became clear Liverpool were reluctant to sell ? Seeing how much Giroud, and then Podolski, struggled only proved how much a striker of Suarez’s work ethic and ability is worth.
Arsenal need better cover for Flamini
Fair enough, with Flamini out Wenger didn’t have many alternatives for that defensive midfield spot. But Arteta wasn’t quick or mobile enough to get anywhere near Liverpool’s attacking players, and to be honest, should be playing ahead of Flamini rather than as an alternative to him. Maybe this wasn’t a selection fault, but it did prove that Wenger should have been focused on signing another natural defensive midfielder in the transfer window.
There isn’t enough pace in the central areas of the team
Which leads to the very general problem of limited pace in the central defensive and central midfield spots. Flamini and Koscielny to a lesser degree, but certainly Arteta and Mertesacker, just can’t keep up with teams that have several central attacking players with pace and skill. And when they aren’t allowed the time on the ball in midfield that they are used to – something that Liverpool refused to give them Saturday – the entire side are left chasing shadows.
Arsenal don’t have much time to turn it around
Unlike the game at the Etihad, when Arsenal lost heavily but made a go of it at times, against Liverpool they got absolutely destroyed. Only Szczesny, Wilshere and Oxlade-Chamberlain emerged with any semblance of credit, and two of those have been in and out of the Arsenal team when everyone is fit.
Such a defeat, coming as it does ahead of further difficult games, could create some serious cracks in the side’s confidence, particularly the defence and striking positions – the areas that were most disappointing on Saturday. You would think that even if Arsenal beat Manchester United on Wednesday, the only way they could recover from this result is by knocking Liverpool out of the FA Cup next weekend – and doing it convincingly.
image: © Matt and Kim Rudge
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