Mikel Arteta labeled Liverpool as the ‘best team in Europe’ after the Reds’ win over Arsenal in the FA Cup, although he claimed the Gunners were the better side. It is the name of the Reds that will be in the hat for the fourth round.
Liverpool booked its place in tomorrow’s draw with a 2-0 win at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. Both goals arrived late on, with Jakub Kiwior turning into his own net before Luis Díaz struck in stoppage time to seal the result.
The Reds had to ride their luck in the first half and probably should have found themselves behind at the break. They were helped though by some poor finishing from their hosts, with Arsenal wasting numerous chances to take the lead.
Jürgen Klopp made tweaks to his side at half-time, and his changes clearly worked as Liverpool posed much more of a threat after the break. Their reward finally arrived as the clock ticked into the final 10 minutes, with Arsenal unable to come up with a response before Díaz well and truly settled matters
It’s now three defeats in a row in all competitions for Arteta’s side, while they’ve also only picked up one win in their last seven. The Gunners’ profligacy is clearly becoming a big problem for their manager.
“Well the performance was there and the amount of chances too,” Arteta told BBC Sport after the defeat to Liverpool. “We just have to win the game, but we lost it and we are not capitalizing. To win games we need to capitalize.
“When you are better than the best team in Europe and you generate that amount of chances… I have not seen a team do it against them like we have done it. It is not enough. The reality is, it is not enough.
“Listen, [do I say] play worse than Liverpool, be worse and we will win the game? When my team plays with this confidence what can I do? I am still behind them 100 per cent. It is what it is and we have to continue to play the same way and be more efficient.”
