This game was always going to be a test for Arsenal’s back four. Covering for the absence of William Saliba for the first time in 17 months is tough at the best of times. When you’re missing your summer signing and arguably your best defender this season is only half fit, that job becomes even tougher.
The way Arteta chose to cope was fascinating. Ben White was moved into Saliba’s position alongside Gabriel, with Thomas Partey dropping to right back. At left back a gamble was taken on the fitness of Jurrien Timber. For a while, it appeared to be working.
Partey was imperious in nullifying Luis Diaz, while Timber kept Mohamed Salah quiet. White used his impeccable distribution to set up Bukayo Saka’s opener and Gabriel lived up to his role as the most stable member of the back line.
Unfortunately for Arsenal, the patchwork back four eventually began to unravel.
Gabriel’s injury felt like a huge turning point in the game. It’s not that Jakub Kiwior did much wrong in replacing him, but without the big Brazilian’s presence at the back Arsenal looked as though they lacked the confidence to play as high up the pitch. They dropped deeper and deeper, inviting Liverpool’s pressure on.
Having had one leg taken from underneath them, the other was swiftly swept away as Timber eventually succumbed to the toll of his first start in nearly a month. The Dutchman tried to solider on, but by the end seemed desperate to come off and began making indications with his hands that he needed to come off. Again, Myles Lewis-Skelly did little wrong, but Arsenal simply couldn’t hold on any longer. Would they have conceded such a soft goal with Gabriel and Riccardo Calafiori on the pitch? It’s hard to imagine so.
Arteta, though, was only willing to praise the players who were able to limp over the finish line. “It’s what it is,” he said. “We had five injuries in the back line. We have to adapt to it and we will continue to adapt. It’s the situation that we have. Support them and praise the players because the courage again today was unbelievable.”
Last season Arsenal had three of their back four nailed on in almost every game they played. This year they’ve not been so lucky. Saliba’s return should at least offer some resemblance of normality in time for the trip to Newcastle. With so much instability at the back though, it’s no wonder that Arsenal have eventually given up more ground.
Arsenal look tired again
On Tuesday night, Mikel Arteta admitted that his side looked tired in the second half against Shakhtar Donetsk. When questioned if that might linger, the Spaniard was adamant his side would be able to recover.
“We have now four days,” he said. “Believe me, come Sunday we’ll be flying.”
In the early stages Arsenal were just that. Bukayo Saka’s clinical finish saw them roar in front and it’s not an exaggeration to say that they could have been two or three up. Instead though, they were pegged back by a cheaply conceded set piece goal for Virgil van Dijk – their second from a corner in as many Premier League games.
The momentum wasn’t affected and when Mikel Merino nodded the Gunners in front on half time, few could argue it was against the run of play. In the second half though, the drop off was stark.
We’ve already explored the destabilising factors that might have caused that, but for most of the last half hour Arsenal looked to be hanging on. They simply didn’t have the energy to extend their lead. Arteta is insistent it’s not too much of an issue.
“Beyond the physical part we look at all the stats,” he said in his post-match press conference. “The stats are not dropping. We have better starts in many games individually in the second half. Some positives like Mikel for example hasn’t played 90 minutes for five months probably since the Euros. So a lot of positive things to take and carry on going.”
The eye test begs to differ though. Arsenal did look shattered again in the second half. For that to happen as early as October is a real concern. There is no real let up with trips to Preston, Newcastle, Milan and Chelsea to come. The Gunners need to find some energy from somewhere.
Are Arsenal running out of chances?
Is it too early to talk about the title race? Probably. But many had this down as a must-win game for Arsenal.
The reality is that it was more of a must-not lose. The Gunners did exactly that, which in the circumstances may not be such a bad thing. They have dropped points in four out of nine games now. Last season they did so in just nine out of 38 – and that still wasn’t enough to win the league.
The question now is how many chances do Arsenal have left? Manchester City have set ridiculous standards and Liverpool look – in these early stages at least – capable of matching them. Mikel Arteta wasn’t quite ready to talk about that just yet.
“You don’t want to be in that position,” he said of the five point gap between Arsenal and Premier League leaders City. “You want to be five points ahead but this is where we are. The team is alive, the team wants it. I feel it every single day.
“The players that cannot play, they are upset that they are not playing. The ones getting injured, the ones that are there they are in a good moment. Things will turn up and we are going to be in a better place. But we are certainly there.”
It may seem strange to say right now, but the reality is that Arsenal are in a position where they need to win nearly every one of their remaining games if they want to win the title. The circumstances in which they’ve lost points may be controversial, but the Gunners are nearly out of opportunities to give any more ground away in the title race.
