Five talking points from Arsenal v Liverpool

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Five talking points from Arsenal v Liverpool

By Oscar Maung-Haley

Arsenal succumbed to their first defeat since August with a heavy 4-0 loss to Liverpool at Anfield.

The Gunners were ultimately no match for Jurgen Klopp’s men, who ran riot in the second-half following a competitive opening 45 minutes of action.

Here’s our look at five talking points from a frustrating afternoon on Merseyside.

Aaron Ramsdale is the signing of the season

While it wasn’t really in doubt that Aaron Ramsdale is Arsenal’s signing of the season, his performance against Liverpool was so good that we can now comfortably say he’s the Premier League’s best summer signing.

But didn’t Arsenal lose 4-0?

Well, yes. But had it not been for the Arsenal shot stopper, Mikel Arteta’s side would have undoubtedly shipped even more than four.

AR

The newly-capped England international pulled off a string of impressive saves during the match, helping to keep the deficit down.

When Arsenal signed him in the summer, a lot was made of his arrival at the Emirates.
But since his introduction into the first team, Ramsdale has been nothing but sheer class between the sticks.

… he and should be England no.1!

While Jordan Pickford currently holds the England no.1 jersey, Ramsdale will soon be between the sticks for Gareth Southgate if he keeps this form up.

Since his first Premier League start against Norwich, he’s kept five clean sheets, displaying outstanding reflexes, a good command of his area and distribution aplenty.

Ramsdale has all the traits and quality to be an international quality goalkeeper of the highest order.
If he continues in this vein, he’ll no doubt be starting for England sooner rather than later.

Liverpool prove too much for Arsenal

The last time Arsenal lost was an embarrassing 5-0 defeat to Manchester City in August.

The Gunners were abysmal that day, conceding three in the first half and again straight after the break.

MS v AR

That loss was Arsenal at their worst. There was no heart or desire. However, against Liverpool, it wasn’t that there was no desire or intent, it was just that Liverpool were better.

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s exemplary cross to Sadio Mane opened the scoring, which was a goal of the highest order. 

And in the second half, goals from Diogo Jota, Mo Salah and Takumi Minamino saw them run riot.

Of course, that’s not to say City weren’t better on the day too.

But Arsenal did at least try against Liverpool – they were just outclassed on the day by a much better side.

The Gunners couldn’t live with Liverpool’s intensity, and perhaps it’s a good loss in the sense that it can show Arsenal just how far they have to go to reach the top.

Arsenal still a work in progress

It wasn’t their finest day at the office for Mikel Arteta’s men.

But a 4-0 loss against Liverpool certainly isn’t the end of the world.

PEA v F

For one, when Liverpool are in that sort of form, they’re almost unstoppable.

The Gunners are still three points off the top four places and their work throughout September, October and November meant that they could afford to lose against Liverpool.

Qualifying for the Champions League is a realistic possibility for Arsenal this season, they just need to pick up results against those around them and below them to ensure that.

Next up…

The defeat to Liverpool ended Arsenal’s 10-game unbeaten run, eight of which were in Premier League action. 

And with Newcastle next up, the Gunners will surely fancy their chances to start a new run when they welcome the bottom of the table Magpies to the Emirates next Saturday.

PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES


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