Mikel Arteta had well observed Arsenal in their pre-season matches in the US till now as they lost 2-1 to Liverpool at Philadelphia. After two wins against Manchester United and Bournemouth, the Gunners failed to make much impact against Arne Slot’s side in their last pre-season clash. Kai Havertz scored the only goal for his team while Harvey Elliott’s two assists for Salah and Carvalho in the first half were enough to ease past the Gunners.
In the post-match interview, Arteta mentioned that Arsenal must continue to improve if they want to win a major title this season. While he praised his side’s quality of play, he insisted that they must punish the other side if they are to make the difference. He further lamented that it should have been his team who were supposed to lead after they could not make the most of vital situations in the opponent’s penalty box.
With the US tour done, Arsenal will now head back to their Emirates Stadium where they will host Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen. Their first Premier League clash is against Wolves on 17th August.
Gunners midfield miss Declan Rice
After some brilliant displays in the pre-season, this was the first time that Arsenal missed Declan Rice in their midfield. Many first team stars including Bukayo Saka, Aaron Ramsdale, and David Raya were absent. They are away on vacation to recover from the high voltage clash at the Euros final.
The first half saw Liverpool players run amok in the midfield without any sort of hindrance. The backline had players like Kiwior, Gabriel and Zinchenko who have not spent much time together on the field before. But the real issue at hand was their midfield.
Thomas Partey failed to block players from breaking through the midfield and could not stand firm on his ground. Liverpool dominated the middle of the pitch with ease while the Gunners were defensively vulnerable and had to put in much more work.
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Mikel Arteta manages Jurrien Timber’s minutes
Jurrien Timber’s absence in the Arsenal squad was a surprising yet prudent decision. In this pre-season, we could see a fine defensive display from the Dutchman. He played 63 minutes and 62 minutes against Manchester United and Bournemouth respectively. He showed both enough physical strength as well as rigour to win balls. Given his successful rehabilitation from an ACL injury sustained in August against Nottingham Forest, it would have been intriguing to see him face Liverpool’s formidable players like Mo Salah and Diogo Jota. However, it is better to be safe than sorry. It was wise not to rush Timber back into action. Arsenal avoided the risk of making his injury worse before the season’s start, making it a sensible choice.
Nketiah heading for Arsenal exit?
Before departing on a midnight flight from Philadelphia to London, Arsenal provided their fans with hints about the futures of some players. Eddie Nketiah, who would have expected to start or at least come on earlier than the 78th minute, was on the bench. This decision supports reports that he is close to leaving, with a long-term move to Marseille being his primary option. Such a move would offer him regular first-team football, which he is unlikely to get at Arsenal this season.
Reiss Nelson, on the other hand, started the game, indicating that Arsenal is still considering their options with him. Although several clubs are interested in him, Nelson signed a four-year deal last July, complicating a potential transfer if Arsenal decides to part ways. Despite a lackluster first half and being substituted at the break, Nelson’s limited game time this year suggests he needs more opportunities to be fairly assessed. His potential was evident with a promising cross at the 20-minute mark.
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