Three Positives To Take From Arsenal's Defeat at Liverpool 

Here's Nick Manfredi with three positives Mikel Arteta's Arsenal can take from their trip to Anfield 

The Gunners fell to an agonising 1-0 defeat to the champions at Anfield after a tepid display from both sides. It was a cagey game of very few chances, and it looked like it was heading to a goalless stalemate before an unstoppable free kick from Dominik Szoboszlai.

So, what are the takeaways from a frustrating afternoon?   

Madueke showed he can push Saka for a starting place 

It’s fair to say the signing of Noni Madueke from Chelsea wasn’t exactly universally popular within the fanbase but it was clear there was a top player in there for sure.

Playing on his favoured right-hand side in the absence of Bukayo Saka, Noni showed plenty of signs that he is a more than adequate backup and has the ability to rival Saka for a starting spot. Madueke constantly caused Milos Kerkez problems with his pace and trickery.

He was by far our best player and quite honestly, the most dangerous player on the pitch a lot of the time. Every time he ran at Kerkez I felt he could make something happen and on a number of occasions he did.

Against weaker left backs than Kerkez, Madueke will get a lot of joy. He is more than just a fill in for Saka, this is a seriously potent winger who can cause even the best defenders in the league serious problems.  

Arteta must take more risks- starting with Eze 

Some eyebrows were raised when the teams were announced and Mikel Merino started in place of Martin Odegaard who came off with a knock last weekend and was only named on the bench as a result.

Also, despite the clamour for Eze to start, we saw Gabi Martinelli, who didn’t play a minute against Leeds, get the nod.

While there are perfectly valid explanations for both these selections, it resulted in a very risk-averse approach from the team.

We struggled to create chances and were reluctant to push forwards in numbers in fear of getting caught on the break.

A sensible approach for a game at Anfield but would we have been so frugal in our attacks had one of Odegaard or Eze started?

The latter in particular had a bright cameo when he came on for his debut.

I don’t think too many Gooners will disagree when I say Eze must start against Nottingham Forest.

He brings that maverick profile which we didn’t previously have.

Eze provides unpredictability and variety in attack.

To put it simply, he takes risks and as we saw over the course of his time at Palace, quite often those risks come off.   

Arteta must find a way to get Gyokeres more involved 

Much like the game at Old Trafford, Viktor Gyokeres struggled to be a key figure all game. A lot of it isn’t his fault given the lack of service he was given.

I felt that his hold-up play was actually not bad but he wasn’t helped by the way the team was set up.

Personally, I’m not too worried seeing as this was a game away at the champions and we started without Saka, as well as Martin Odegaard, and Eze for most of the afternoon, and against Forest after the international break, it’s likely the latter two will be starting.

But in games like Sunday when we need to absorb a lot of pressure and as a result won’t create as many chances, Arteta needs to find a formula to make our shiny new striker more present. He has to. 

Overall, a frustrating afternoon but there were some positives and the good news is there are 35 games left to make amends and one of those games will be at our home against Liverpool.

It’s a marathon not a sprint and the starting pistol has only just been fired. Pace yourselves.