Mikel Arteta rested the gloomy performance of Arsenal in the first 20 minutes against Liverpool, even though he returned to pull 2-2 and hold with 10 men.
Arsenal gave Liverpool an honorary guard at Anfield to commemorate their Premier League victory, and the Gunners then started slowly, with Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz both scored within 87 seconds halfway through the first half.
The side of Arteta improved after the break, with Gabriel Martinelli who scored two minutes after the break for Mikel Merino, just played on the side of Trent Alexander-Arnold, went to their equalizer in the 70th minute.
However, Merino was sent nine minutes later for a second bookable attack and received the sixth red card from the Premier League season, although the Gunners held up for a valuable point when the late winner of Andy Robertson was rejected.
It was the first time since March 2021-in a 3-3 draw against West Ham-that Arsenal destroyed a shortage of two goals in the competition, but they have now won only three of their last 11 top matches (D6 L2).
“What we did in the first half, the first 20 minutes, was by no means close to the level,” Arteta told Sky Sports. “So to do it afterwards, it's too late.
“We responded, great. But those 20 minutes were unacceptable. It's about action, not a response.
“The action we had after those 20 to 25 minutes, then the second half, that's what I am [asking for]. But me? They are it. It's not about asking.
“It is my responsibility if the team plays that way, it's on us or me? The 20 minutes, that's definitely on me.
“It's not about the players. It's about us. Here, players, managers, nobody accepts those standards. They were not nearly around.
“In the second half, with all the respect, with all things: the position in which we are, 15 points behind it hurts. It has to hurt a lot.
“Regardless of all the apologies, this is the sixth time that we have played with 10 men this season, all the injuries, half of the starters who don't start, look at what we can do when we get there. That's it.”
Arsenal is Winless in their last five games in all competitions and will be in this competition after three consecutive losses.
Their hope for winning silverware This season was also terminated on Wednesday when they were beaten from the semi-final of the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain.
Arteta insisted that their midweek loss in Paris was no excuse for their slow start.
“Then you don't have to fight for trophies,” he added. “Because if you fight for trophies, you could win it or loss, but then there is another [match] And another one.
“So that's the level we have to assess. If not, you just accept things. For me, not acceptable.
“It's not about winning. Nobody can promise you win. She [Liverpool] Can't promise that you can do what they want and that you go on the market.
“You have six or seven teams who pray to first be in the Champions League and see if we can win silverware next season.
“That's it, it's not about. It's about doing the base, the simple things where you can dominate.
“I don't ask people to dribble past two players and put it in the top corner. Never go and do that.”