Arsenal comeback at Liverpool overshadowed by red card and injuries | OneFootball

Arsenal came back from two goals down against Liverpool but finished with 10 men and fresh injury concerns, leaving Mikel Arteta frustrated despite the point.

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Mikel Arteta did not hold back after Arsenal came from two goals down to secure a 2-2 draw at Liverpool, calling the first-half performance “unacceptable” but praising the fight his side showed in the second half despite ending the match with 10 men.

Liverpool looked to be cruising at Anfield after first-half goals from Cody Gakpo and Luis Díaz put them 2-0 ahead at the break. But Arsenal responded with a far more aggressive and coherent second-half display, pulling one back through Gabriel Martinelli before Mikel Merino brought them level. Merino was later sent off for a second bookable offence, forcing the Gunners to play the final stretch of the game a man down in what was an unevenly refereed match, to say the least.

“What we did in the first half is nowhere near the level, so to do it after that is not acceptable,” Arteta said post-match. “We reacted, great, but it is unacceptable.”

Arteta was clear that while the fightback was commendable, the team should never have put themselves in that position to begin with. “You don’t have to be fighting for trophies and then you might win or lose it. That’s the level you need. No-one can promise you win. You’re going to have six, seven teams who pray to be in the Champions League next year and then you see.”

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He added, “The action that we had after 20, 25 minutes. When the team plays like this, that’s on me. It’s not about the players. It’s about we. No-one accepts those standards. It has to hurt a lot. Six times we played with 10 men this season. Look at what we can do when we are there.”

The result leaves Liverpool 15 points clear at the top of the table, while Arsenal require just one more point to secure a top-five finish and Champions League football, given their superior goal difference over Aston Villa. Similarly, due to Arsenal’s goal difference, Europa League football, at the very worst, is now guaranteed.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Micah Richards credited Arsenal for their second-half response. “Arsenal’s reaction was very good. I liked the tactical tweak when Martinelli went down the centre. The season could’ve fizzled out. They didn’t feel sorry for themselves, they came out on the attack, they had a game plan. We still want to see more in the first half because at times they were overrun in midfield, silly mistakes. All in all they’ll be happy with that performance.”

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Arteta, however, was left counting the cost of the draw. Declan Rice, who was absent from the squad altogether, is a serious doubt for the next match against Newcastle United. “Him and Jurrien are not fit, Declan couldn’t even train so he’s injured unfortunately and couldn’t make the game,” Arteta said before kick-off.

The club offered no details beyond a brief confirmation that Rice missed out “through injury”, though Sky Sports reported the decision was made “on doctor’s advice.”

To add to Arsenal’s concerns, Leandro Trossard was forced off during the second half with a suspected hamstring injury. Arteta’s post-match update was typically concise. “After losing Leo and Merino, with Rice struggling, and none of the other injured players back, we will field 11 players against Newcastle.”

What shape those eleven will take, however, is far from clear.

Post match quotes

Gabriel Martinelli, speaking to Sky Sports: “It’s never easy to come here and play against them after not a good result against PSG. We play for Arsenal and we have to go to every game to win. We came with that mentality. We didn’t win the game but we did very well in the second half. We take the draw.

“We play for Arsenal, we can’t give up. We talked about pride and we have everything in the second half and did well.

“It’s hard to play against them. When the ball goes out, they like to play quick. W didn’t pay much attention for the first goal. We could have done better in the first half. Really happy with the point and the effort.

“It’s done, we know we lost against PSG, it’s gone already. We have to think about Premier League.”

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Liverpool boss Arne Slot speaking to BBC Match of the Day: “It’s not often we play a great team like Arsenal. We weren’t as intense for the first 15 minutes of the second half as we were for the first 45 minutes. I brought on an extra attacker for Diogo Jota which led to their second yellow card and almost another goal which we unfortunately didn’t get. We had chances and scored two which was great for the fans. The atmosphere in the stadium was fantastic.”

Slot speaking to Sky Sports: “It was a great game of football, fans all around the world and in the stadium love what they saw. It didn’t matter too much because the league table is clear but it is about prestige. A team like this can really hurt you, like Chelsea last week.

“After you have won the league, you always wonder what team you get but I liked the team I got. We had some good counter attacks. Arsenal immediately scored in the second half and then I brought Diogo Jota on as an extra attacker and we went so close to winning the game.

“I haven’t learned so much today because I have played most of these players this season. Conor Bradley did really well. I know how good these players are but I like to see the mentality they showed today. They put in a performance.”