Mikel Arteta has worse Arsenal record than Unai Emery and Arsene Wenger from first 50 Premier League games as club told they played like a Championship side against Liverpool

Mikel Arteta’s 50th Premier League game in charge of Arsenal ended badly as his side lost 3-0 at home to Liverpool.

The Gunners were outclassed by the reigning top-flight champions thanks to two second-half goals from Diogo Jota and a Mohamed Salah strike.

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Arsenal’s chances of finishing in the top six took another blow

Arteta apologised to fans afterwards, adding the visitors were better in every department.

“Liverpool completely deserved to win the game, probably by a bigger margin. We were extremely poor. We apologise,” he told Sky Sports.

“They made the right decisions, we didn’t. It is my fault. I have to set the team up to perform in a different way and that is it. he added, as he shielded players from any blame.

“Congratulations to Liverpool because they were exceptional today. That showed the difference between the two teams – that when they play at that level, the margin is incredibly high.

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Tierney, one of Arsenal’s star players this season, limped off during the defeat to add to Arteta’s woes

“I don’t have to use any excuses – that we don’t have five or six players – the standards are much higher at this football club and I have to get them to perform at that level. It was technical as well.

“We gave every ball away and could not put three passes together. The basics weren’t there today. If you do that against this kind of opponent, you get punished like we have.

Asked if Arsenal’s players had to take some responsibility, Arteta replied: “I prefer to do that. I take it.”

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Publicly, Arteta was keen to take full responsibility for the defeat, shielding his players

Arteta replaced Unai Emery as Arsenal boss in December 2019 and won the FA Cup in his first season as a manager.

However, it has not been plain sailing for Arteta, who is trying to change their position in the league table and actually has a WORSE record than previous managers Unai Emery and Arsene Wenger from his first 50 Premier League games at the Emirates.

Arteta has won 21, drawn 12 and lost 17 of his opening 50 top-flight games in charge with a 42 win percentage. Subsequently, he has accumulated 75 points, 10 fewer points than Wenger… and 12 fewer points than Emery.

Arteta vs Emery at Arsenal

Arteta (first 50 PL matches)

Won: 21

Drawn: 12

Lost: 17

Win percentage: 42 per cent

Goals scored: 72

Goals conceded: 56

Clean sheets: 15

Emery (51 PL matches)

Won: 25

Drawn: 13

Lost: 13

Win percentage: 49 per cent

Goals scored: 91

Goals conceded: 70

Clean sheets: 10

The Europa League remains Arteta’s only hope of rescuing what has been a disappointing first full season in management.

The Gunners, who dropped to tenth in the Premier League table over the weekend, play Slavia Prague in the last eight of the competition this week.

But Arteta’s men resemble a team recently playing in the Championship, rather than one competing in Europe, according to Tony Cascarino.

“Arsenal have been the most confusing team to me all season,” Cascarino told talkSPORT on Sunday morning.

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Arteta has a big job on his hands trying to turn things around at Arsenal with defeat to Liverpool leaving them ninth

“They have had some great highs and unbelievable lows. [The Liverpool result] was an incredible low. [Dani] Ceballos in midfield was awful, they gave away the ball too often and couldn’t lay a glove on Liverpool at all.

“They play a style that is more like a team that has come up from The Championship at times, not all the time –  West Ham away they started like that where they were 3-0 down and ended up trying to get back and be far more aggressive – yesterday they played like a team that had come up.”

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