Martin Keown has claimed that Arsenal produced one of their most tepid performances of Arsene Wenger’s era in a 3-1 loss to Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday evening.
The Gunners boss made the controversial decision to leave Alexis Sanchez on the bench and went with Olivier Giroud and Danny Welbeck up front to test Jurgen Klopp’s defence.
Arsenal were unable to live with the home side in the first half after goals from Brazilian forward Roberto Firmino and Senegal international Sadio Mane.
Sanchez came off the bench at half-time and the South American teed up Welbeck to halve the deficit to offer some hope of a comeback from the north London side.
Netherlands international Georginio Wijnaldum restored Liverpool’s two-goal cushion with a close-range finish after great work from Adam Lallana and Divock Origi.
Speaking to BBC One’s Match Of The Day about Arsenal’s performance on the red half of Merseyside, former Gunners defender Keown made a frank admission.
“I’m struggling to remember a more tepid performance in the last 20 years under Wenger. There was a lack of spirit and fire in their bellies,” Keown said.
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