LONDON: Bukayo Saka lamented Arsenal’s failure to show “our best selves” after they lost ground on Premier League title rivals Liverpool in a 2-2 draw at the Emirates Stadium.
It took England winger Saka just nine minutes to open the scoring on his return from a hamstring injury only for Virgil van Dijk to equalize for Liverpool.
Arsenal, however, regained the lead toward the end of the first half through Mikel Merino only for Mohamed Salah to rescue a draw for the visitors nine minutes from time.
The result left Arsenal, last crowned champions of England 20 years ago, third in the table but five points behind leaders Manchester City and four adrift of Liverpool after nine games.
Mikel Arteta’s men dominated the first half but failed to turn that superiority into more goals.
“We’re disappointed,” said Saka. “I feel like we didn’t show our best selves for 90 minutes. We believe we should have won it.
“For sure, there’s definitely some positives. Liverpool are a top team, and credit to them.
“But the overall feeling is that we didn’t show our best selves for the whole game, especially more in the second half, and it cost us in the end.”
Saka was a major doubt heading into Sunday’s match after missing Arsenal’s previous two games with a hamstring injury he suffered on international duty.
In the end he was fit to play and marked his comeback with a 50th goal in the Premier League.
“Hopefully that can push us to some silverware as well,” added Saka, who at 23 years and 52 days became the youngest player to reach the milestone for the Gunners.
“I hate to miss games, so I was buzzing to be back. I had this game in mind to come back for and I was feeling good out there, and I was happy to get an early goal.”
Arsenal ended the game with a makeshift and untested back four after Gabriel was forced off with a knee injury, while Jurrien Timber was also unable to complete the match.
But Gunners manager Arteta can now call upon William Saliba again after the center-back served a one-match suspension following his red card in the defeat at Bournemouth.
Arsenal are away to Preston in the League Cup on Wednesday before traveling to Newcastle in the Premier League on Saturday.
Saka regrets Arsenal not showing ‘our best selves’ against Liverpool
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Saka regrets Arsenal not showing ‘our best selves’ against Liverpool
- It took England winger Saka just nine minutes to open the scoring on his return from a hamstring injury only for Virgil van Dijk to equalize for Liverpool
Supersub strikes again as Sesko gives Man United win at Everton
- The defeat was a blow to Everton’s hopes of a place in next year’s European competitions and left it languishing in ninth, behind Brentford and Bournemouth
LIVERPOOL, England: Manchester United supersub Benjamin Sesko scored 13 minutes after entering the field to give his side a 1-0 win over Everton in the Premier League on Monday.
It was the third time in four games that Sesko has scored after coming off the bench and secured points for United.
“I believe in me and so do the other players as well,” Sesko told Sky Sports. “They know what they are going to get when I arrive in the game. It’s up to me to deliver of course.”
His goal with 19 minutes remaining finished off the slickest move of an otherwise stodgy game.
Bryan Mbeumo controlled Matheus Cunha’s superb long ball and played a perfectly weighted pass to the feet of Sesko, who steered the ball past Jordan Pickford with aplomb.
“It was a great finish,” United interim coach Michael Carrick said. “It was a ruthless finish. I liked the way he put it away with real confidence. It was great play from Cunha and Mbeumo to set it up and we are dangerous on the break.”
Until then defenses had been on top and the lack of attacking fluency was not helped by a heavy pitch that appeared to slow down both teams.
The result took fourth-placed United three points clear of Chelsea and Liverpool. United was three behind Aston Villa.
It also extended Carrick’s unbeaten run to six games since he replaced Ruben Amorim on Jan. 13.
The defeat was a blow to Everton’s hopes of a place in next year’s European competitions and left it languishing in ninth, behind Brentford and Bournemouth and eight points adrift of Chelsea and Liverpool.
David Moyes’ men have gone seven games without a win at their new Hill Dickinson Stadium.
“Generally we did very well in lots of bits,” Moyes said. “We got done on the counterattack and they ran away and got the goal that was there. We put in a great effort to get the goal but lacked the quality to make it count.”
