Arsenal’s unbeaten start to the Premier League season came to an abrupt halt at Anfield on Sunday as Mikel Arteta’s men fell 1-0 to defending champions Liverpool, with the Gunners’ boss directing sharp criticism at new signing Eberechi Eze after the game.
The contest, billed as the weekend’s standout fixture, was decided by a moment of brilliance from Dominik Szoboszlai, who unleashed a thunderous strike from over 30 yards in the second half to give Liverpool their third straight win of the campaign. The Hungarian midfielder’s long-range effort proved enough to keep the Reds’ perfect record intact and underline their early-season dominance.
For Arsenal, however, the afternoon was defined as much by missed chances as it was by Liverpool’s wonder goal. And at the heart of Arteta’s frustration was Eze, a player the club acquired this summer in a high-profile £67.5 million deal from Crystal Palace.
Making his debut in an Arsenal shirt, Eze was brought on in the 70th minute, replacing Gabriel Martinelli as the Gunners sought a breakthrough. Almost immediately, the England international found himself in a prime position to equalize. Breaking through Liverpool’s backline, he had a clear sight of goal, but his effort lacked the clinical edge required at Anfield.
Arteta did not mince words when asked about the moment in his post-match interview with Sky Sports.
“You have to put the ball in the back of the net,” he said firmly. “We created three, four, maybe even five big chances inside the box where it was one against one. Eze was completely through, and those opportunities have to end up as goals if you want to win against a team like Liverpool.”
The Spaniard’s comments highlighted both his frustration and his demand for ruthlessness in front of goal, especially after investing heavily in Eze to bolster Arsenal’s attack. For the 25-year-old midfielder, it was a tough initiation into life at the Emirates, with the weight of expectation already pressing down after just 20 minutes of action in red and white.
Beyond Eze’s miss, Arsenal did create other dangerous openings but lacked composure when it mattered most. Martin Ødegaard and Madueke both saw efforts blocked, while Declan Rice fired wide from the edge of the box. Liverpool, by contrast, were clinical when the opportunity fell to them, Szoboszlai’s strike leaving Aaron Ramsdale with no chance.
The result leaves Arsenal with six points from their opening three games, their first defeat of the new campaign after victories in their opening two fixtures. Arteta’s side had hoped to make a statement at Anfield, a ground where results have historically been difficult to come by, but instead they left with questions about their cutting edge.
Liverpool, meanwhile, continue to look every bit the champions. Arne Slot’s men sit top of the table with nine points from three matches, combining attacking firepower with defensive resilience. The victory was their second clean sheet in a row, a further boost as they chase back-to-back Premier League crowns.
For Eze and Arsenal, the challenge now will be how quickly the England international can shake off his disappointing debut and prove why the club were willing to make him one of their most expensive signings ever. Arteta’s public words served as both criticism and motivation, a reminder that at Arsenal, costly chances cannot be wasted especially against title rivals.
The Gunners return to action next weekend with a chance to bounce back, but the spotlight will no doubt remain on Eze as he seeks to justify the faith and the fee that brought him to North London.
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