As Diogo Jota scored Liverpool’s first goal, my heart sank in the stands. Watching on from the north bank, it was like all the optimism of the first half that had given life to the crowd was suddenly drawn out of us.
Made worse was Jota’s goal was quickly followed by a Liverpool substitution. Arsenal watched on as both Jota and Luis Diaz were replaced by Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino. The latter would soon go on to score a quick second and put the game to bed.
Despite the game having half an hour still to play, including added time, there was little that could be done to change the tide of the game. Mikel Arteta had a comparable much weaker reserve to call upon.
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Emile Smith-Rowe replaced an uncharacteristically quiet Martin Odegaard after the first goal. Nicolas Pepe and Eddie Nketiah came on for Bukayo Saka and Alexandre Lacazette.
Three like-for-like changes. Changes which despite bringing fresh legs offered comparatively less. Smith-Rowe, the club’s current top scorer has flourished on the left but was unable to be as impactful centrally.
Pepe’s contribution to the season has only come in the 2-1 win over Wolves where the Ivorian scored the equaliser and set up Lacazette to force the winner in added time. But against a Liverpool side with much more control than Bruno Lage’s side, he offered next to nothing.
Nketiah is a player who desperately needs to find a suitable environment to grow. Arsenal is not it despite concerning attempts from the club to convince him to stay.
The striker and central midfield positions are sure to be addressed in the summer transfer window. However, it is clear that Arteta and technical director Edu need to address the depth in the squad and the options available to change a variety of game states.
Arsenal signed Nuno Tavares and Sambi Lokonga in the summer. However, these were very much signings of potential and not designed to usurp Kieran Tierney or Thomas Partey. Perhaps one day, but not in the near future.
The signing of Aaron Ramsdale is the blueprint and Liverpool’s acquisition of Jota and Dias are further examples. Signings that are designed to make the starting eleven in the here and now and push established individuals to be better or lose their place.
Jota and Dias’ impact has seen the likes of Salah, Sadio Mane and Firmino have their turns on the Liverpool bench. Jurgen Klopp has been blessed with the ability to bring on world-class level ability thanks to the recruitment in the front line.
Therefore, if Arsenal want to add depth to the forward line, midfield and defence, they need to go in strong this summer. Partey and Granit Xhaka have been a good pair, but Arsenal should be looking for even better quality to push one of them out of the team.
Ruthlessness has not been lacking in Mikel Arteta’s approach to the Arsenal squad. Players on big contracts and who were appreciated as some of the best in the squad have been moved on for not fitting the expectations of the Spaniard.
Should any player not fight for their place when competition arrives this summer then Arteta needs to be as cutthroat as he always has been. There cannot be leniency if this side wants to return to the top.
