Wenger makes case for defence as Arsenal lose out to Liverpool

Liverpool kicked off the new Premier League campaign with a win in remarkable circumstances as it bested Arsenal in a seven-goal thriller at Emirates Stadium on Sunday, emerging 4-3 victors.

Having fallen behind, Liverpool romped into a 4-1 lead with four goals in 18 minutes either side of half-time, before allowing Arsenal back into the contest by conceding twice more.

The Reds started the second half strongly and delivered a performance like they did against Barcelona when they scored three quick goals courtesy of Adam Lallana, Coutinho and a debut goal from Sadio Mane. The game was not over.

He said: “Physically we are not ready”. I was on the bench in the last 10 minutes and it was unbearable to watch at times.

Klopp said his side had “switched off” – and that he was to blame.

“It was very entertaining, we started not so brightly but it’s always hard coming to Arsenal”, Lallana told Sky Sports.

“I’m convinced that there’s a lot to come from this team and from this group and we have to recover from that blow and prepare for our next game”, he said.

“We prepared well the players we have in but I think you have to consider we have been a bit unlucky as well”. Players can get injured, like [Aaron] Ramsey [hamstring] today, or you can give them needed rest and be without many of them.

Wenger was without experienced defensive trio Per Mertesacker, Gabriel and Laurent Koscielny due to injury and fitness problems, leaving him to pick young English pair Chambers and Rob Holding in central defence.

Wales midfielder Aaron Ramsey did start, despite only playing one preseason game, and was substituted in the second half with what appeared to be a hamstring injury.

“I knew it in the moment [I shouldn’t celebrate] but it was too late, I had Sadio on my back!” We were not really good, asked for the goal and we got it.

“We did fight until the end, but we lacked stability a bit”.

He added: “We are physically not ready”.

“We showed a few nice signs, a few not so nice signs, that’s all”.