The return of the ‘old Arsenal’ was there for all to see yesterday, as Mikel Arteta’s side succumb to a 3-0 home defeat to Liverpool – heaping pressure on the Gunners boss.
Arsenal’s soft underbelly was there for all to see again last night, as three second half Liverpool goals were enough to leave the Gunners stunned and travel back to Merseyside with all three points.
Pressure is increasing on Arteta now, as Arsenal fans fear they are slipping back into their old ways under Arsene Wenger – conceding soft goals and struggling against the big six.
The result leaves Arsenal six points adrift of seventh placed Tottenham Hotspur, with their North-London rivals also having a game in hand.
It leaves the Gunners facing the very real prospect of having no European football next season unless they win the Europa League.
Arsenal fans are a rowdy bunch, who refuse to accept mediocrity, and that is where they see their team sleepwalking towards.
Several players came in for criticism, including club captain Pierre Emerick Aubameyang.
But the man who seems to have taken the biggest hit is Gabriel.
Since his arrival in the summer from Lille, he has struggled to adapt to life at the heart of Arsenal’s defence.
As Arteta continues to search for the winning formula at the heart of their defence, Gabriel has often been the makeweight in finding that formula.
Gunners fans certainly weren’t happy with the Brazilian’s performance yesterday.
Here’s what they had to say on Twitter….
Whatever Arteta said pre-match made the team nervous. No-one wanted the ball, everyone looked terrified of the press. Schooled in tactics by Klopp for me. Second worst performance I have seen under Arteta after Villa drumming. Ceballos, Gabriel & Auba dire 👎#ARSLIV #Arsenal
— Dan Waterman (@danwaterman9) April 4, 2021
I can’t remember the last time @Arsenal were sooo pathetic. I mean we know they pathetic but they took it to a whole new level. And as for Gabriel….
— Squinzö (@5Quinn5) April 4, 2021
This arsenal nkt.. PEPE Gabriel and Ceballos should be playing for a league one club in England.. Very useless
— Chadwick ii (@B10official1) April 4, 2021
I’ve just seen Gabriel defending I don’t understand why arsenal have not sorted this center back issue since Sol Campbell cut
— KMT (@Kev44_) April 4, 2021
Arsenal thrashed by Liverpool reminded me of the Wenger era when this happened regularly in this match. Poor defensive play by Arsenal player Gabriel had a big part to play in this thrashing. He was so poor that Liverpool ended up targeting him as they realised his weaknesses
— Babul Islam (@ec99bim) April 4, 2021