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Having played out a goalless stalemate in the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final meeting last week, Arsenal welcomed Liverpool to the Emirates Stadium for the all-important second leg on Thursday night.
Considering it was the Gunners’ only realistic shot at silverware this season, they were expected to play like there’s no tomorrow. Unfortunately, Liverpool were simply a class above the Londoners and ultimately bagged an easy 0-2 win, courtesy of a Diogo Jota brace.
The early signs were promising for Arsenal. Their build-up play was on-point, distribution impressive, and they maintained their shape nicely as well. Skipper Alexandre Lacazette even hit the cross-bar from a well-taken free-kick in the sixth minute. Liverpool were well and truly on their back foot at that point, but that didn’t keep them from scoring an all-important opener.
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Against the run of play, Trent Alexander-Arnold released Jota in the final third and the Portugal international took care of the rest. The Reds gradually grew into the game after the goal as Arsenal struggled to re-establish control. They tried to find their footing in the second-half, but Jota once again took it upon himself to rain on the parade. His 77th-minute dinking effort was originally ruled out for offside, but VAR’s intervention saw Liverpool double their advantage.
Overall, it was a disappointing outing by the north London club on Thursday night, in which none of their top stars managed to meet expectations.
Here are the five Arsenal players who were particularly abysmal against Jurgen Klopp’s men in the second leg of the EFL Cup semi-final:
#5 Takehiro Tomiyasu
Arsenal right-back Takehiro Tomiyasu recovered from his calf injury in time to feature in the second leg of the EFL Cup semi-final.
Unfortunately, the Japanese full-back did not look match fit and was outsmarted by Jota time and again over the course of the match.
His inability to contain Jota in the first half led to Liverpool’s opener, and he did not do enough to make amends for it. Since he was sluggish off his line, the north London team’s attacking output was also badly affected.
#4 Aaron Ramsdale
Gunners goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale produced an uncharacteristically nervy performance against Klopp’s side on Thursday night.
Although not at fault for Jota’s second, Ramsdale could’ve surely done better to stop his first one.
Jota’s goal-bound effort in the first half was tame at best, as it was hit straight at Ramsdale.
Surprisingly, the keeper couldn’t judge the ball as well he should’ve and failed to keep it out. Disappointing for a keeper of his caliber.
#3 Thomas Partey
Just 48 hours after being knocked out of AFCON, Arsenal’s Ghanaian midfielder Thomas Partey returned to London to help his side in the EFL Cup.
His intentions were undoubtedly noble, but playing hours after taking a rather long flight to London was not the best idea.
Mikel Arteta rightly left Partey on the bench against Liverpool, and probably wouldn’t have called him on had the Gunners performed more convincingly. Against his good judgment, Arteta brought him on in the 74th minute in place of Emile Smith Rowe.
Partey looked clearly fatigued right from the get-go and was a mere spectator for Jota’s 77th-minute goal. The former Atletico Madrid man’s first contribution came in the 87th minute when he needlessly brought down Neco Williams and was rightfully booked for it. Three minutes later he lunged in on Fabinho with his studs showing and was given his second yellow.
The red card will keep him out of action for Arsenal’s vital Premer League clash against Burnley this Sunday.
#2 Emile Smith Rowe
Operating in the inside-left channel against Liverpool, Arsenal’s golden boy Emile Smith Rowe endured a quiet night out on Thursday.
The young midfielder was outmuscled by the Reds players in the middle and never got around to demonstrating his creative brilliance. The player, who returned to the team after recovering from a groin injury, also looked not fully fit.
Smith Rowe is most effective when he is given the freedom to play in the hole, just behind the team’s centre-forward. However, with Lacazette drifting to the right more often than not, the 21-year-old never really got into the game.
Smith Rowe made only 14 passes, had negligible offensive contributions, and was dispossessed five times against Liverpool on Thursday.
#1 Alexandre Lacazette
Arsenal skipper Alexandre Lacazette was expected to lead the charge against Liverpool in the EFL Cup semi-final second leg on Thursday night. Instead, he was once again seen vacating central areas, resulting in another incoherent display by the Gunners.
As always, the Frenchman regularly dropped deep to help the midfielders, especially Bukayo Saka down the right hand side. His biggest mistake was not moving into his original position to at least try to threaten Liverpool’s goal.
To top it off, the Arsenal centre-forward was responsible for squandering their best opportunity of the night in the second half.
Four minutes after the restart, Lacazette was played through on goal brilliantly by Albert Sambi Lokonga, but the forward could not keep his right-footed effort on target.
Had he scored the equalizer early on in the second half, the Gunners would’ve had a real shot at booking their place in the final.
