Mikel Arteta's men were not embarrassed here. Far from it. This was among their best displays of the season.
They’d fought so valiantly and asked so many questions of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool team that the home fans applauded their men off at the end.
But you need more than spirit, belief and industry to live with the side that has added the Carabao Cup to the Champions League, the Premier League under Klopp.
You need consistency, finishing and class in key moments. The difference up front and between the two keepers summed that up.
Five minutes into the second half, when Thiago played a suicidal ball back towards his own goal, Martin Odegaard looked set to put Arsenal ahead.
Alisson made himself big and worried the big Norwegian out of it, Odegaard’s shot cannoning off the Brazilian’s arm to safety.
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Five minute later, Thiago released Diogo Jota. Aaron Ramsdale should have had his every move covered - instead he was beaten at his near post.
It is hard to criticise a keeper so superb since he signed for the Gunners that it remains only a matter of time before he is England’s no.1.
So I won’t. Ramsdale will learn from this. Arsenal too. They were excellent until his mistake. And even after Roberto Firmino added the second, they refused to cave in. Those days are over with this new Arsenal under Mikel Arteta.
Their games in hand meant this was always a free hit with fourth place still theirs for the taking.
Now they need a finisher in the summer. A killer in front of goal. Maybe two. Frontmen to do what Jota did so ruthlessly with Liverpool’s backs against the wall. If Arsenal can have that kind of class to call on next season they’ll be back in business.
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