Confident and assertive— those were the words that commentator Jim Beglin used to describe Liverpool as they dismantled a woeful Arsenal side 4-0. Those are just some of the words that you'd use to describe champions, others that come to mind are persistent, determined and gritty. Those words you wouldn't be able to use when describing Arsenal.
As good as Liverpool were, you can't overlook how utterly horrendous Arsenal were. From the tactics, the game plan, player selection and right down to the execution a lot was left to be desired.
Beginning with the lineup the exclusion of Sead Kolisinac and Hector Bellerin, a right back by trade, taking his place stood out. It also made little sense that Shokdran Mustafi was left out in favour of Rob Holding. The wingbacks proved to be the biggest liability as they provided little protection for back three leaving Holding and Monreal duly exposed. Not to mention how naïve Wenger’s men were not to anticipate that Liverpool would present the biggest threat from the flanks.
Not starting Lacazette or Giroud also proved to be a poor judgement. In recent seasons Liverpool’s soft underbelly has always been their defence even more so in the air and set pieces. This should have obviously pointed to selecting Giroud to put a cat amongst the pigeons.
With that said Arsene Wenger remains the club’s biggest soft spot, but the players are just as much to blame. Alexis Sanchez proved ineffective and Mesut Özil was pedestrian as ever, so much for “marquee” players.
When comes down to it last night showed the world why Arsenal haven't won the league in 13 years. For a number of those years people have blamed it on a lack of talent or money, but in reality it's due to the club’s frailty, ineptitude and indecision, qualities shared with the manager.
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