Arsenal started the match with hopes of Wembley but ended it by seeing their Carabao Cup dreams dashed following a 2-0 defeat by Liverpool in their semi-final second leg.
The Gunners have now crashed out of both domestic cup competitions within two weeks with a decimated squad unable to cope with a number of injuries, Covid-19 cases and international absences. The likes of Takehiro Tomiyasu, Emile Smith Rowe, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard all started against Liverpool on Thursday night, but they looked like they never had any training over the week.
Liverpool beats Arsenal 2-0 in the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg. (Photo courtesy: Getty Images)
By the time Diego Jota gave Liverpool the lead in 19 minutes, they never really looked like surrendering their advantage. Jurgen Klopp’s side just had too much experience and know-how, with Arsenal struggling to build any sort of momentum on a frustrating night at Emirates Stadium.
It was another disappointing defeat for the Gunners on the back of the horrible FA Cup exit at Nottingham Forest and the boss must now ensure a season that has promised so much, doesn’t start to slip away, with only 11 days left of the transfer window and it feels imperative that the Gunners bolster their squad before January 31.
Much of their time was spent on getting players out, with Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Folarin Balogun, Pablo Mari and Sead Kolasinac all leaving the club, but now the focus must be on bringing people in. The Gunners have not been able to cope with the injuries that have come their way and have understandably started to look a bit flat.
Granit Xhaka will also soon return from suspension, but they still need more, especially with serious doubts hanging over the future of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The fact that they had to include Partey on the bench against Liverpool, just 48 hours after Ghana had been knocked out of 2021 AFCON, highlighted just how stretched things were.
With 1-0 down, Arteta threw the midfielder on for the closing 20 minutes even though he’d only arrived back in England earlier in the day. It was a risk and one that did not pay off, with Partey picking up two bookings and getting himself sent off.
Liverpool players celebrate victory over Arsenal in the Carabao cup Semi-finals second leg. (Photo courtesy: Getty Images)
He will now join Xhaka in missing the Burnley match on Sunday through suspension, further adding to Arteta’s woes. The red card completed a miserable night for the hosts, with Liverpool just too well drilled.
Gabriel Martinelli caused Liverpool problems and Odegaard looked bright, but both he and Smith Rowe often found themselves far too deep because of the 4-3-3 formation Arteta was forced to use because of a lack of midfielders.
Lacazette had one good chance after the interval after being picked out by Albert Lokonga but failed to keep his effort down. Jota eventually killed the tie off with his and Liverpool’s second, lifting an excellent finish over Ramsdale after being picked out by a fabulous Trent Alexander-Arnold pass.
Arsenal went into the tie with expectations high after their battling 0-0 draw at Anfield in the first leg last week, but in the end, they were given another example of the gap that still exists between them and the Premier league’s top sides.
The fact, Gunners had Eddie Nketiah leading the line for the final 20 minutes against Liverpool as they searched for a way back into the tie summed things up. This was a day that started full of promise for the Gunners but they came up short. They need to get some good business done in the next 11 days to ensure the rest of the season does not follow suit.
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