Mikel Arteta slams ‘unacceptable’ Arsenal performance against Liverpool

The Gunners were without the likes of Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, David Luiz and Granit Xhaka, but Arteta refused to use the absence of four key players as an excuse for such a dismal display.

Arsenal suffered a further setback when Kieran Tierney was forced off on the stroke of half-time with a knee injury, but in truth the Gunners were fortunate to go in level at the break.

Liverpool eventually made their dominance tell following the introduction of Diogo Jota with the Portugal international helping himself to two goals, while Mohamed Salah also got in on the act.

Reacting to one of the most comprehensive defeats of his reign, an emotional Arteta said: ‘We completely deserved to lose the game they were better in every department, They deserved to win with the margin they have or more and it was unacceptable from our side the way we played.’

We completely deserved to lose the game they were better in every department, They deserved to win with the margin they have or more and it was unacceptable from our side the way we played.’

More to follow…