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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta let down by four players in crushing Liverpool defeat
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta oversaw his side's disappointing defeat to Liverpool on Sunday.
Arsenal: Arteta's verdict after defeat to Liverpool
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was downbeat after his side’s emphatic 3-0 defeat to Liverpool on Saturday night. The Gunners went into the game looking to boost their chances of finishing in the Premier League top four. However, Jurgen Klopp’s side ran riot with a blistering display at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal were able to keep Liverpool at bay in the first half, despite the visitors dictating the game.
But their resistance was eventually broken by Diogo Jota in the 64th minute, with the Portugal international putting his side in front.
Mohamed Salah doubled Liverpool’s advantage just four minutes later, scoring his 18th Premier League goal of the season in the process.
And Jota grabbed his second of the game late on to ensure Klopp’s side leave the capital with all three points to their name.
While Liverpool were fantastic, however, Arsenal were abysmal.
So Express Sport will now take a look at the four players who struggled the most throughout the showdown at the Emirates.
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Dani Ceballos
Surely this is the end of Dani Ceballos at Arsenal?
The Spain international has been at the club for nearly two years, having been deemed surplus to requirements by Real Madrid.
Yet while he can impress at times, Ceballos was dreadful against Liverpool.
He was sloppy in possession, giving the ball away far too much and failing to win his battle with the likes of Fabinho and James Milner.
And it was no surprise to see him hooked by Arteta just before the hour mark.
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Nicolas Pepe
Lille, Nicolas Pepe’s old club, enjoyed a great result on Saturday.
The Ligue 1 leaders beat Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 to move closer to the title. And how the Arsenal star must wish he’d stayed put.
Pepe has talent, that’s obvious. But the brutal truth of the matter is that he’s woefully inconsistent and a major Emirates flop.
Even if he hadn’t cost £72million, fans would have been disappointed by his shown against Liverpool.
Having waited so long to get an opportunity from the start, it’s safe to say the Ivory Coast international failed to take it.
Gabriel
Arsenal star Gabriel has enjoyed a solid, if unspectacular, first season with the club.
But the Brazilian produced a dire display against Liverpool, playing a key role in the Reds’ second and third matches of the game.
He was caught out for Salah’s goal, going to ground and unsuccessfully trying to get the ball.
And he squandered possession for Liverpool’s third, appearing to have had enough by the time the final whistle blew.
Rob Holding was also poor but Gabriel’s two errors were ultimately more significant on the night.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Rocking a new hairstyle was Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who has now been compared to Travis Scott by many fans on social media.
But the rapper could probably have put in a better performance.
This was a dire day for the Gabon international, who continues to look a far cry from the lethal goal-getter he’s been over the years.
On the left wing, Aubameyang toiled.
And it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Arsenal cut their losses on the £300,000-a-week star when the transfer window reopens at the end of the season.