Arteta- We are on a different journey compared to Liverpool

Mikel Arteta after defeat to Liverpool conceded that time is need to match Liverpool’s level and was pleased with his side’s preformance.

Arsenal’s perfect start to the season ended on Monday night following a 3-1 defeat away to Liverpool at Anfield.

Alexandre Lacazette capitalized on Andy Robertson’s error to bundle in the opening goal of the game. The Gunners’ advantage was short-lived, however, as Sadio Mane equalized just three minutes later.

Robertson then went from zero to hero by slotting home Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross to put Liverpool ahead before the break.

New signing Diogo Jota scored a late third in the second-half to seal all three points for the Premier League champions after Lacazette missed great chances to equalize in one-on-ones against Alisson Becker.

Rather than dwell too hard on the defeat, though, Arteta simply acknowledged Arsenal are still a work in progress compared to the well-oiled machine their opponents currently are.

“Again, it’s Liverpool’s quality,” he told Arsenal.com. “They put you under pressure on the first, second, third, fourth ball. They keep going, they have bodies, they have quality.

“You put them under pressure with a perfect high press and Van Dijk hits an 80-yard ball to Mo Salah’s chest. This is quality, that’s why they paid £80m for this guy, you know?

“We are on a different journey, they have been together for five years, they were unable to do that after one, two, three seasons. They were unable to play this level but they have really good coaches, they recruited really well, they have improved the players that they had and they have real belief in what they do.”

But while Monday served as a reminder as to how far Arsenal still have got to go, they remained right in the game until the closing moments.

Reflecting on the squad’s second-half performance, Arteta said: “They were awesome [in the second half].

“The effort they put in, the way they were pressing the front three, the way they went, the midfield players were tracking back every time. They hit the perfect ball, the second ball… We tried and they believed.

“That’s what I asked of them before the game, to believe. To play here with character and to play our way and now we just accept that they were better and that they are better at the moment and that we have to improve.

The Gunners boss added: “This is the level that we have to reach. We will come back on Thursday and try to win again.”