The uncertainty over Wenger’s future is no longer an excuse for Arsenal’s repeated failures against the Premier League’s leading teams, with the manager having signed a new two-year contract, and he did not spare his players in a damning assessment of their efforts.
Asked what went wrong at Anfield, the Arsenal manager replied: “Everything. From the first minute to the last minute we were not at the level required for such a game. Not physically, not technically, not mentally and we were punished. That’s basically it. Of course, you can analyse the chances we gave away, but I just think overall the performance was not at the required level.”
Wenger’s post-match press conference lasted only two minutes and 10 seconds before he left the media room at Anfield but he also said: “The result is a consequence of our performance. We were not good enough. We were beaten everywhere physically, in the end I believe we made it easier for them, and the mistakes gave them a cushion.
“It was shocking (conceding a second before half-time) but our performance was absolutely disastrous. Not to become too emotional, we have to take some distance, and there are some reasons behind it, and the players now go on their international break, but we do have to take the consequences of our performance today. If you find a manager who is happy with that performance today, I wish you good luck. The emotions are negative, but it’s not the right moment to talk about that.”
Wenger was booed by sections of the away support when he stepped into his technical area for the first time in the second half. On the hostile reception he said: “I don’t want to answer that. That’s part of the crowd’s feelings. If I am the problem, I am sorry, but I believe all together we lose. The only thing we can do is come back and give them a better level of performance.”
Arsenal greats slam Wenger’s side
Liverpool, England: Arsenal’s shocking performance in their 4-0 Premier League defeat at Liverpool yesterday was slammed by the club’s former greats with all-time top scorer Thierry Henry describing the team as “unwatchable”.
Arsene Wenger’s team were 2-0 down at the break and could have lost be an even bigger margin if it had not been for their goalkeeper Petr Cech. Henry, now working as a pundit for Sky Sports, said he had turned his studio seat around at one moment during the game. “It was unwatchable, at one point I wanted to leave. I don’t relate to the team and I don’t think a lot of the fans do. That is a problem,” said the Frenchman who scored 228 goals for the North London club.
“It’s painful. It’s how they lose. It’s always the same. You have seen it before. Everything you see reminds me of what has happened for the last 10 years,” said Henry who won two Premier League titles with the club.
Henry added that it was difficult to watch Arsenal falter in such a way before suggesting that players such as Alexis Sanchez appear to be on their way out. Former Arsenal full back Lee Dixon, now working for US television network NBC, said it was the worst performance from the club he had witnessed since retiring in 2002.
“That was abject. Every one of them should be given a train ticket and be made to go home with the fans. That was embarrassing. I was embarrassed to do commentary up there,” he said. “The shape was all wrong, we were outnumbered in midfield, the tactics was wrong from Arsene, the players didn’t give it their all. Every single part of their game was off. If their star players don’t perform, they’re bang average,” he said.
Arsenal keeper Cech questioned his teammates’ commitment. “It was unacceptable for a club of our size. OK, you can come and lose a match 4-0 if you have a bad day, when you are fighting but are unlucky, but not like how it happened today,” he said.
“We were not fighting, not winning any individual battles, and we completely failed to respond to their way of playing. This is the most disappointing thing. The only positive out of the game is that we have time to respond, because it is early in the season. I don’t think it can get any worse than this.”