Arsenal’s road to challenging Liverpool FC is long, and Mikel Arteta knows it
For all the good work Mikel Arteta has done at Arsenal in just over nine months, this defeat to Liverpool was a reminder of how much more there is left to do.
In fairness to Arsenal, there is little shame in coming to Anfield and losing, and this victory for Jurgen Klopp’s side means they have not lost at home in the Premier League since April 2017.
When they are in the mood, as they were last night, few sides can live with this Liverpool side and, as Arteta continues his rebuild, he could do worse than telling his team to try and replicate the standards of Klopp’s pressing and passing.
They are arguably the best in Europe at it but that has not happened overnight, with Monday’s match between a team laying the foundations for the future against one who has benefited from their manager drilling his ideology into them since 2015.
“We are in a different journey to Liverpool,” said Arteta. “They've been together for five years and they weren't able to do what they've done tonight two or three years ago, that's for sure.
“They set the bar and they're probably the best standard that the Premier League has seen in many years. This is where we have to get and obviously we're still a long way from getting there.”
Arteta will know more than anyone else that there is work to be done, but last night showed how he has a solid base to build from.
Arsenal came to Anfield last season and lost 3-1 too, but this performance was different to the one under Unai Emery.
The Gunners then were 3-0 down before the hour mark, but this time they scrapped and fought to stay in the game, never ditching their philosophy of playing out from the back, and they should have equalised to make it 2-2 when Alexandre Lacazette was one on one with Alisson midway through the second-half.
“When we had the clear chances to make it 2-2, we didn't score,” said Arteta. “Obviously if you want to get something out of the game here, you have to do that.”
Liverpool, by contrast, showed their ruthless side when they needed to, scoring twice in six minutes through Sadio Mane and Andrew Robertson after Lacazette had opened the scoring. Debutant Diogo Jota’s third late on sealed the win, but until then Arsenal were dogged and stubborn.
They are two adjectives rarely associated with Arsenal in the past, but now they have been drilled into the squad it is time for Arteta to add more quality – particularly in midfield.
Dani Ceballos, Granit Xhaka and Mohamed Elneny have performed admirably this season rotating the central midfield roles, but last night emphasised how they need support.
It is therefore no real surprise Arsenal are pushing hard to sign either Lyon’s Houssem Aouar or Atletico Madrid’s Thomas Partey before Monday’s transfer deadline.
They are players with a £50million price tag – and with good reason. Both have the ability to transform Arsenal’s midfield and take it to the next level. Partey would add strength and dynamism, while Aouar’s ability to create chances and control a game is equally attractive.
They are players who could help bridge the gap to Liverpool, who are a lot further down the road than Arsenal.
Arteta’s rebuild at the club has only really just begun but, even after this defeat, there are signs Arsenal are heading in the right direction.
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