Arsenal fans fume over Mikel Arteta’s decision

Arsenal faced a devastating 2-0 defeat at home against Liverpool in the FA Cup, prompting widespread frustration among Gunners fans and a renewed call for reinforcements in the striking department during the January transfer window.

The loss saw Mikel Arteta’s side dominated by Liverpool, culminating in an early cup exit.

Despite a dominant first-half display from Arsenal, where they unleashed 13 shots at goal and relentlessly pressed Liverpool’s defense, they failed to convert these opportunities into a goal. This fueled the growing demand among fans for a central striker signing.

Liverpool managed to break the deadlock ten minutes before the final whistle as Trent Alexander-Arnold’s free-kick deflected off Jakub Kiwior, finding its way into Arsenal’s net.

The setback was compounded when Luis Diaz secured the victory for Liverpool with a well-executed strike into the top corner.

Criticism aimed at Arteta emerged concerning his decision to introduce Eddie Nketiah late in the game to bolster Arsenal’s attacking prowess.

Alan Shearer, commenting during the match, expressed disbelief at the timing of Nketiah’s substitution, questioning why the England striker wasn’t brought on earlier.

Gunners fans echoed Shearer’s sentiments, expressing frustration over the timing of the substitution on social media. Some highlighted the impact of delayed changes, lamenting the missed opportunity to alter the course of the game earlier.

On Twitter, one supporter expressed frustration, stating,

“We barely saw him, and that was because Arteta made the subs about 20 minutes too late.”

Another criticized the timing of substitutions as “criminal,” emphasizing the delayed impact of changes made by the Arsenal manager compared to Liverpool’s proactive alterations.

Arsenal’s struggle to convert opportunities was starkly evident as they extended their streak of shots without scoring at the Emirates Stadium to 48.

The second half saw them fail to register a shot on target while Liverpool capitalized on their chances, underlining the concerns over Arsenal’s lack of cutting edge in recent performances.

While Arteta might find solace in Arsenal’s overall performance and build-up play, the ongoing issue of converting opportunities into goals looms as a significant worry for the Gunners’ manager.