Mikel Arteta expressed his disappointment after Arsenal's narrow 1-0 defeat to Liverpool, lamenting his team's inability to convert promising chances into goals. The highly anticipated Premier League clash saw Dominik Szoboszlai's exquisite free-kick in the 83rd minute secure a hard-fought victory for Liverpool, extending their winning streak this season and bringing an end to Arsenal's own unbeaten run.
The loss marked Arsenal's first away defeat in the league since November 2024 when they succumbed to a 1-0 defeat against Newcastle United. Prior to this match, the Gunners had enjoyed an impressive run of 15 games unbeaten on the road, a testament to their growing resilience and tactical prowess under Arteta's guidance. However, their struggles at Anfield continue, as they remain winless in their last 13 Premier League encounters at the stadium, a streak stretching back to September 2012, when ironically, Arteta himself was a player for Arsenal.
Despite the defeat, Arsenal's performance wasn't without its merits. The Gunners managed to outshoot Liverpool, registering 11 attempts compared to the Reds' nine, and also edged them in terms of expected goals (xG), with 0.55 xG to Liverpool's 0.45. However, their lack of precision in front of goal proved to be their undoing, as they only managed one shot on target, a 21st-minute effort from Noni Madueke.
Arteta, while acknowledging the setback, remained optimistic about his team's overall performance and believes they deserved more from the game. He emphasized their improved display compared to their previous encounters at Anfield, highlighting the fine margins that ultimately decided the outcome.
"I am very disappointed with the result," Arteta told Sky Sports, "but I'm very proud of my players. Both sets of players had to dig in to a level where there was nothing between the two. It was going to be decided by an individual error or a moment of magic."
Arteta further elaborated on the challenges of playing at Anfield, acknowledging Liverpool's dominance at home and the need for his team to find a way to overcome such obstacles. "You cannot dominate here for 90 minutes; it is impossible. At the end of the game, I said we have to find a way to win these big matches," he stated.
The Arsenal manager also pointed to the absence of key players as a contributing factor to their struggles in the final third. "You have to put the ball in the back of the net when you have it. We were much better than last year when we drew [2-2] here, much better. We have to put the ball in the back of the net if you want to win the game," he added. "We lost Martin [Odegaard], we lost Kai [Havertz], and then we lost Bukayo [Saka]. In the warm-up, we lost [William] Saliba."
Odegaard's availability off the bench provided a boost, although Saliba's early withdrawal forced a reshuffle. Looking ahead, Arsenal's potential acquisition of Bayer Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie, who is reportedly close to joining on loan, could bolster their defensive options.
New signing Eberechi Eze made a positive impact on his debut, coming off the bench with 20 minutes remaining and showcasing impressive passing accuracy, including four passes in the final third, surpassing Gabriel Martinelli's contribution in 70 minutes. Arteta defended his decision not to start Eze, citing his recent arrival and the faith he has in the existing squad.
"He's been with us for four or five days, that is all," Arteta explained. "We fully believe in the players that played. You have to take a lot of positives from the game. I haven't seen Liverpool at home suffering like they did against us."
Despite the defeat, Arteta remains confident in his team's ability to learn from the experience and bounce back stronger in their upcoming fixtures. He recognized the need to improve their efficiency in front of goal and capitalize on their chances, emphasizing the importance of converting promising performances into tangible results. The Gunners will be looking to address these shortcomings as they continue their pursuit of Premier League glory.
