🏟️🚨BREAKING NEWS: I know I made a mistake in letting Szoboslai score that free kick yesterday but what Arteta said to me Infront of everybody in the dressing room yesterday broke my heart,no manager has ever said that to me before”, David Raya finally reveals what Arteta said to Him after losing against Liverpool that got Him upset

ARTETA MUST SHOULDER THE BLAME

If Arsenal are serious about winning the Premier League, Mikel Arteta needs to show greater boldness when his side are in control.

The manager waited far too long to make changes, introducing Eberechi Eze and Martin Ødegaard in the 70th minute — by which time Liverpool had already seized momentum.

Six points from nine is not disastrous, but with tough fixtures ahead against Newcastle and Manchester City, the pressure is rising.

Arsenal had gone 22 matches unbeaten against the so-called Big Six, a run stretching back to their April 2023 defeat to City. Still, none of those wins came away to Liverpool or City. In fact, the Gunners’ last victory at Anfield was back in 2012 under Brendan Rodgers — with Arteta himself featuring as a player that day.

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MERINO FIGHTS HARD BUT MIDFIELD LACKS SPARK

Mikel Merino was a surprise inclusion in the starting XI, with Gabriel Martinelli also recalled after the 5-0 thrashing of Leeds.

The Spanish midfielder, who scored against Liverpool in both league meetings last season (and was also sent off at Anfield), once again relished the battle. He worked tirelessly to trouble the Reds’ defence, particularly from corners, though Declan Rice’s deliveries caused little danger.

Despite a VAR check, Alexis Mac Allister escaped punishment for a tussle with Merino, while the Arsenal man should arguably have been booked for theatrically going to ground in search of a penalty after another poor Rice set piece.

While Merino unsettled Liverpool, he couldn’t break through their defence. Noni Madueke looked Arsenal’s sharpest attacking outlet, but new striker Viktor Gyökeres, as in the season opener at Old Trafford, was left starved of service.

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INJURY CRISIS STRIKES AGAIN

For Arsenal’s medical team, it’s a familiar scenario: another season disrupted by fitness woes. Questions will inevitably be asked of Arteta’s training methods.

The Gunners travelled to Anfield without Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, Ben White, and Christian Nørgaard, while Gabriel Jesus remains a long-term absentee. To make matters worse, captain Martin Ødegaard was only fit enough for the bench.