Mikel Arteta knew why Arsenal didn’t beat Liverpool, but he was the author of his own misfortune

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Mikel Arteta has shared one reason why he believes Arsenal suffered defeat against Liverpool.

Arsenal’s unbeaten start to the Premier League season was discarded on matchday three as Liverpool beat the Gunners 1-0 at Anfield. 

Anfield is a notoriously difficult place for the North Londoners to visit, as Arteta will know, having been in the starting XI the last time Arsenal won in the Premier League at the ground. 

On matchday three of the 2025/26 season, Arne Slot’s side took three points from the North Londoners, giving Arteta a lot to think about after a dominating yet lacklustre performance.

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Mikel Arteta knew Arsenal had to do better in attack against Liverpool

Dominating yet lacklustre is becoming a trademark for the style of Arteta’s Arsenal.

Even during Arsenal’s 5-0 win over Leeds the week prior, there were questions asked about how rigid the Gunners looked in the final third. 

Against Liverpool, it was the same situation, with no visible attacking desire evident from the visitors.

After the contest, Arteta said to BBC 5 Live [18:57 31/08/2025] that he believed poor decision-making cost his team in the final third.

“I think we had four or five situations where we have to deliver the ball in better conditions,” the Arsenal manager said.

“To act faster, to be more precise, and that’s how you’re going to win it against a team that is very well organised. That’s those margins.”

It was rather ironic that the Spaniard chose to focus on the ‘margins’ that cost his side the game, when from the off, it was clear that Arsenal were not there to take the game to Liverpool. 

Arteta didn’t set Arsenal up to create

A lot of the talk before the game was on who Arteta would select in his front line.

Would it be a debut for Eberechi Eze? Would Martin Odegaard be fit? Would Ethan Nwaneri start?

The answer was none of the above, as Arteta opted for an approach that can only be described as cowardly in attack. 

Mikel Merino was chosen to start in place of Odegaard, who was named on the bench alongside Eze, Nwaneri and budding playmaker Max Dowman.

Ahead of the midfield, consisting of three defence-minded players, was Viktor Gyokeres, who needs support, Noni Madueke and out-of-form Gabriel Martinelli.

Whereas Martinelli is known for his poor decision-making, the likes of Eze and Odegaard are renowned for their ability to break down defences. 

Arteta might have acknowledged that his side were lacking in the final third at decisive moments, but it has to be said that the boss did very little to aid that.