Arsenal faced a late collapse against Liverpool on Sunday at the Emirates Stadium, succumbing to a 2-0 defeat despite a dominant first half.
Poor finishing and excellent goalkeeping from Alisson Becker frustrated the Gunners, who paid the price for their profligacy with two late goals from Jakub Kiwior’s own goal and Luis Diaz in stoppage time.
Arsenal, with just one win in their last seven matches in all competitions, find themselves out of the FA Cup and League Cup. Their recent struggles have seen them lose three consecutive matches, putting a damper on what had initially been a promising first half of the season. They currently sit five points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool.
Manager Mikel Arteta acknowledged the risk of his team falling into a mental slump and emphasized the need to reset. Arsenal will have a 13-day break before their next match against Crystal Palace, and Arteta sees this period as an opportunity to recharge and regroup.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is happy with his current striker options 🤝
➡️ https://t.co/PPcIGf05m6 pic.twitter.com/PAVHkvGEiE
— Premier League (@premierleague) January 8, 2024
Despite the recent setbacks, Arteta expressed confidence in his team’s performance, noting their control of games without reaping the rewards. “When my team plays with that courage and attitude against probably the best team in Europe right now in terms of momentum, what can I do but stick by them and support them?” he said.
Arteta called for support for the players, urging fans to “give them some love” and emphasized the importance of staying behind the team during challenging times.
While Arsenal looks to rediscover their winning form, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp downplayed the idea that beating Arsenal would provide a major boost in the Premier League title race. Liverpool currently leads the league, two points ahead of second-placed Aston Villa. Klopp emphasized the team’s focus on staying warm and playing as well as they can, irrespective of external factors.
