Arsenal might have lost a game on the opening day of the Premier League but a lot of fans were visibly upset with the result and had a pop at Arsene Wenger. Even Thierry Henry spoke out about the problems at Arsenal and how the manager might have set them up for the loss against Liverpool.
The Reds, on the other hand, were fantastic and barring a little collapse, in the end, could have won by a wider margin. Arsenal did make a comeback into the game but that was not enough to salvage a draw.
The knives are out and pointed at Wenger but he has a lot of answering to do, especially to these five big questions from this one day of the Premier League.
Why rest so many players?
This has been raised as an issue by many pundits, why has Wenger decided to give an extended break to the likes of Mesut Ozil, Laurent Koscielny, and Olivier Giroud? Euro 2016 is the answer but the side should have known about this extended schedule and ensured they have these players still ready for the new season.
Arsenal do not have a lot of cover for their striker position and playing Alexis Sanchez as the lone attacker really was not a smart move by Wenger and that will certainly cost them in the long run.
Why no plan a proper preseason?
Arsene Wenger did state that the players were not physically ready to play this first game. That is a lame excuse from someone who has been at the club for 20 years. Everybody knows how tough the Premier League is and not having a proper preseason where the players are conditioned well is now hurting them big time.
The manager knew Liverpool would have done a lot of work over the preseason and not preparing well is just not acceptable, especially in this day and age of modern football.
Why no big signings?
The lack of a quality central defender certainly hurt the Gunners in this game and it could come to bite them at the end of the season as well. Rob Holding is still young and needs a lot of time to adjust to the Premier League and playing Calum Chambers did not go all that well either.
The fans have been baying for a new central defender to help out Laurent Koscielny but Wenger seems to be turning a deaf ear to the supporters, well he must have heard the boos ringing around the Emirates at the end of the game against Liverpool. Maybe he will change.
Why let Walcott take the penalty?
A player who has never taken a penalty at the club for 10 years was given the opportunity to do that, and he missed. Now Arsene might not have been in the know-how about who takes the penalty but the penalty takers have normally decided prior to the season starts and in the training ground.
Walcott did score around a minute later but that penalty could have changed the course of the game. Alexis Sanchez was on the pitch and it certainly was a surprise seeing the Englishman step up, not so much when he missed it, though.
Why did Granit Xhaka not start?
Granit Xhaka did make an appearance for the side but the damage was already done. It was a surprise to not see him start for the side, especially when Liverpool had only Jordan Henderson in the team doing the defensive work at the Emirates.
The England international is not the best in this role and with Xhaka in the side; the London club could have dominated midfield and ensured the likes of Georginio Wijnaldum did not have a lot of freedom to attack. That did not happen and the Liverpool team coasted to victory.
Arsene Wenger needs to have a good long hard look at himself and he needs to turn things around if he is to ensure that Arsenal once again finishes in the top four this season.