X reacts as Liverpool punish Arsenal's profligacy in FA Cup win
- Liverpool defeated Arsenal 2-0 at the Emirates on Sunday
- Jakub Kiwior scored an own goal before Luis Diaz's stoppage-time thunderbolt
- Arsenal have lost three consecutive matches
Arsenal were dealt a third straight defeat on Sunday afternoon, losing 2-0 at home to Liverpool in the FA Cup third round.
The Gunners rattled off 18 shots - the most Liverpool have conceded in any game this season with all 11 players on the pitch - but failed to find the net or force Alisson into any spectacular saves. Not for the first time this season - or this winter - Arsenal's wastefulness in front of goal cost them.
Mikel Arteta admitted that his Arsenal side "weren't at the level" or "good enough" in consecutive defeats to West Ham United and Fulham in preparation for this cup tie. Yet, the hosts looked more like their most potent selves with a fast start at the Emirates Stadium - even if the all-white kit did throw off some spectators.
Turned on expecting Arsenal v Liverpool and apparently it's Real Madrid-Fiorentina. Why??
— David Winner (@dwinnera) January 7, 2024
Glass half full: This is a really good start
— gunnerblog (@gunnerblog) January 7, 2024
Glass half empty: This team has to start taking chances
Arsenal rattled off seven shots before Liverpool had their first effort - a forgettable half-chance - of the match. Reiss Nelson rounded Alisson but couldn't convert from a tight angle before Martin Odegaard tested the structural integrity of the goal frame with a blast against the crossbar.
Arsenal really hate taking chances don’t they?
— Jordan Campbell (@JordanC1107) January 7, 2024
Game should be out of sight by now. The lack of finishing is almost comical at this point #ARSLIV
— Dr. Rajpal Brar, DPT (@3cbPerformance) January 7, 2024
Trent Alexander-Arnold battered Arsenal's crossbar at the sharp end of a sporadic Liverpool attack but the visitors were certainly fortunate to go in at half-time level.
Arsenal have had 13 shots compared to our 2.
— - (@AnfieldRd96) January 7, 2024
We’ve had a shocking first half.
Arsenal's skewed radar had not been calibrated during the interval, with each forward taking turns to find new ways to waste clear sights of goal.
Has Bukayo Saka forgotten how to kick the football
— Scott Saunders (@__scottsaunders) January 7, 2024
We just need a striker with Jesus’ pressing and combination play, Havertz’s physicality and Nketiah’s finishing and we’d win it all 👍
— Tim Stillman (@Stillmanator) January 7, 2024
For all of Arsenal's wasted opportunities, Liverpool's latent threat always bubbled beneath the surface. The introduction of Diogo Jota brought it closer to the boil before Alexander-Arnold forced the breakthrough with a devilish set-piece delivery in the 80th minute.
Unlike his horror show against Fulham last weekend, Jakub Kiwior had passed through Sunday's contest unscathed until his unfortunate own goal broke the deadlock.
Kiwior is a left footed Rob Holding....
— Curtis Shaw (@curtisshaw9) January 7, 2024
Liverpool struck again in the fifth minute of stoppage time with an emphatic finish from Luis Diaz. The Colombian had been partnered up front by Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo to begin the game but Liverpool still had a lengthy list of absentees - a fact that was not overlooked by Arsenal's detractors.
Arsenal lost to a Liverpool team with no Salah, no VVD, no Thiago, no Endo, no Szoboszlai, no Matip, no Bajcetic, no Robertson, no Tsimikas😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
— ✍️ (@DONTM1SSS) January 7, 2024
READ THE LATEST FA CUP NEWS, PREVIEWS & RATINGS HERE
feed