Mikel Merino has insisted that Arsenal did not set out to be cautious in their 1-0 defeat at Liverpool on Sunday. The midfielder said the team’s desire was always to attack but in the face of Liverpool’s threat on transitions, his side found the balance difficult to find.
Mikel Arteta was criticised for his selection, in which he beefed up the middle with the inclusion of Merino in the No 10 role – Martin Ødegaard was fit enough only to be a substitute – and started the new signing Eberechi Eze on the bench.
