Arsenal’s struggles in front of goal continued as they were punished for missed chances by Liverpool in the third round of the FA Cup. Jakub Kiwior’s own goal and Luis Diaz’s late strike secured a 2-0 win for the visitors at the Emirates Stadium.
Mikel Arteta’s side finished 2023 with back-to-back Premier League defeats and was looking for a first win in 2024. Despite starting brightly and creating numerous chances, Arsenal couldn’t find the back of the net. Liverpool hit the woodwork themselves through Trent Alexander-Arnold, but the first half ended at a low level. In the second half, both sides missed opportunities, but Kiwior’s own goal in the 80th minute and Diaz’s injury-time strike (90+5) sent the Gunners crashing out of the FA Cup with a third straight defeat in all competitions.
How Liverpool punished Arsenal…
Arsenal started the game brightly, but their well-documented struggles in front of goal continued as chance after chance went begging.
Martin Odegaard’s shot rattled the crossbar, while Reiss Nelson and Kai Havertz were also guilty of missed opportunities. Liverpool, who hit the woodwork themselves through Trent Alexander-Arnold, got in at the break level. It was a much more even contest in the second half as both sides fluffed their lines in front of goal.
Bukayo Saka could not convert Havertz’s cross, while Darwin Nunez’s pass was behind Diaz as Liverpool threatened on the break. The breakthrough eventually came 10 minutes from time as Kiwior diverted the ball past Aaron Ramsdale and into his net before Diaz’s injury-time strike (90+5) sealed the win for Liverpool.
Luis Diaz and Trent Alexander-Arnold lead the celebrations after Liverpool take the lead at Arsenal through a Jakub Kiwior own goal
Arteta: We need to be more efficient | ‘We need to stick with the players’
Mikel Arteta was frustrated with his side’s inability to convert their chances into goals. He believes his team played with courage and attitude against one of the best teams in Europe, but they need to be more efficient in front of goal. Arteta stated that he cannot tell his team to play worse than Liverpool and that they must continue playing with the same confidence. He remains behind his players 100% and believes they will find a solution to their struggles in front of goal.
Analysis: Same old story for Arsenal as Arteta needs to find answers
Arsenal’s struggles in front of goal have been well-documented this season. They have only one win in their last seven matches in all competitions, and the pressure is building on Mikel Arteta to find a solution. The Gunners have been knocked out of the FA Cup third round in two of the last three seasons, and they need to improve their efficiency in front of goal if they want to compete for silverware.
Arteta has a big task: to turn things around and find answers quickly.
Klopp proud of Liverpool’s fight
Jurgen Klopp was proud of his team’s fight as they secured a place in the fourth round of the FA Cup. Liverpool have a chance of winning four competitions this season, and Klopp hopes his team can continue their good form.
The league leaders will face Arsenal again in the Premier League on February 4 at the Emirates, and they will be looking to maintain their psychological advantage over the Gunners.
What’s next?
Liverpool can look forward to Monday’s fourth-round draw, while Arsenal must regroup ahead of their next match. The Gunners will face Aston Villa in the Premier League on January 14, and they will be hoping to bounce back from their recent defeats.
Mikel Arteta will be looking for a response from his players and hoping they can find their form in front of goal.
