Mikel Arteta expressed disappointment in his team’s inability to Capitalise on opportunities, as Liverpool secured a 2-0 victory over Arsenal in the FA Cup at the Emirates Stadium.
Arteta labeled Liverpool as the ‘best team in Europe’ following their FA Cup triumph but argued that Arsenal were the better side. Despite Arsenal efforts, it will be Liverpool advancing to the fourth round.
On Sunday, Liverpool secured a spot in the upcoming draw by defeating Arsenal 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium. The decisive goals came late in the match, with Jakub Kiwior inadvertently scoring an own goal and Luis Díaz netting in stoppage time.
During the first half, Liverpool faced challenging moments and could have trailed at halftime. Arsenal’s missed opportunities, however, allowed the Reds to remain in contention.
Following halftime adjustments by Jürgen Klopp, Liverpool emerged stronger and posed a more significant threat. The breakthrough came in the closing stages of the game, leaving Arsenal with no time to mount a comeback before Díaz sealed the outcome.
Arsenal’s recent form has been concerning, with three consecutive losses across various competitions and only one victory in their past seven matches. The team’s recurrent inefficiencies in front of goal are posing challenges for manager Arteta.
“Well the performance was there and the amount of chances too,” Arteta told BBC Sport after the defeat to Liverpool. “We just have to win the game, but we lost it and we are not capitalizing. To win games we need to capitalize.
“When you are better than the best team in Europe and you generate that amount of chances… I have not seen a team do it against them like we have done it. It is not enough. The reality is, it is not enough.
“Listen, [do I say] play worse than Liverpool, be worse and we will win the game? When my team plays with this confidence what can I do? I am still behind them 100 per cent. It is what it is and we have to continue to play the same way and be more efficient.”
Arteta praising Liverpool as the best team in Europe is a huge compliment. Some speculate this could be a tactic to deflect attention from his own team’s struggles, especially their inefficiency in front of the goal.
Despite Liverpool’s impressive performance in the second half, some believe they were fortunate not to be trailing at half-time.
With Arsenal’s current form, Arteta faces the challenge of preventing their season from deteriorating further due to inconsistent performances.
The team’s recent displays raise doubts about their capability to compete for major titles. Arsenal’s chances in both the Premier League and the Champions League seem uncertain based on their recent performances.
In other Liverpool news, Linda Pizzuti, Virgil van Dijk and Three Other Liverpool Players React After Arsenal Win