Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version or go back to LFC Live.net

Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta gestures on the touchline during the Premier League match at Liverpool (Image: PETER POWELL/AFP via Getty Images)

Mikel Arteta slammed his Arsenal team and admits his players have a lot to learn after their comeback fell short at Liverpool.

The Gunners recovered from two goals down at half-time to earn a 2-2 Premier League draw through goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Mikel Merino on Sunday afternoon.

Arsenal were in a strong position to go on to win before Merino was sent off nine minutes after equalising for a second bookable offence.

Liverpool had outplayed the visitors during a largely one-sided first half in which Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz scored quickfire goals.

READ MORE:Liverpool player ratings vs Arsenal as no-one scores higher than 7/10 after collapseREAD MORE:Arne Slot makes Trent Alexander-Arnold vow after Liverpool boos against Arsenal

And Arteta was deeply disappointed with the performance of his players in the opening period.

“I was unhappy with a lot of the parts, especially the defending standards and the errors after we gave the ball away, which is totally prohibited against this team," said the Arsenal boss.

You miss half of the team again – and we have done it for nine months – and you can still (come back) from 2-0 at Anfield.

“We played the way we played, come back and maybe should have won it, and at the end maybe lose it with something that was in our hands.

Sorry for the words that I use.”

Asked if the comeback in the second half was a message to Liverpool ahead of next season, Arteta responded: “No, I think the message is to ourselves.

“I think it has to be about us, the things that we can control.

And (we need to) learn, a lot of learning.”

Arteta added: “When I look back at the two times (Arsenal played Liverpool this season), the game at home we probably should have won it and today, we shouldn’t have lost it.

It could have been three or four, to be fair.

Article continues below

“At the highest level, we can compete against any team and we have shown that now for the last two or three seasons.

“Against the top six, I think we haven’t lost any single game – so that tells you as a team we are very, very consistent and can compete with anybody.

“But actually to win it, and win, win, win, we are going to need something else, apart from our ability as well, certain demands and make sure we don’t talk about reaction – because I hate that word.”


For more news relating to Arsenal, visit our sister site AFC Latest Live.