During their recent trip to Dubai for warm-weather training this month, Arsenal is expected to prioritize shooting drills. With this defeat against Liverpool, marking three consecutive losses – a streak not seen since April 2022 – the match followed a familiar pattern observed in previous games. While Arsenal displayed excellence across much of the pitch, their inefficiency in Liverpool’s penalty area cost them dearly, repeatedly squandering chances.
Despite numerous missed opportunities, Arsenal’s fate took a twist with an own goal, an unfortunate moment Liverpool capitalized on, delivering a hint of the luck Arsenal has been seeking in their goal-scoring endeavors. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s free-kick was inadvertently flicked into Arsenal’s net by Jakub Kiwior in an attempt to clear it, occurring just 10 minutes before the final whistle. In the pursuit of an equalizer, Arsenal faced another setback as Luis Diaz sealed the victory for Liverpool in the closing moments with a precise finish into the top corner during a swift counter.
Despite dominating much of the game, Arsenal should have been comfortably ahead in the first half, with notable missed opportunities by players like Kai Havertz, who struggled in front of goal. Even Bukayo Saka, usually a consistent performer, had a wasteful outing. The collective struggles have intensified calls for Arsenal to acquire a new striker, although such a move appears unlikely in the current circumstances. Manager Mikel Arteta may need to explore internal solutions during this challenging period, with a mid-season break offering an opportunity for introspection and improvement.