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Mikel Arteta (Getty Images)
Mikel Arteta these standards have to improve in Arsenal after the Gunners were outscored in a 3-0 loss to Liverpool on Saturday to realistically end his chances of finishing in the top four in the Premier League.
By contrast, Liverpool again competed for a place in the Champions League next season with one of their best performances of the season in the Emirates.
Diogo Jota came off the bench to score twice on either side of Mohamed Salah’s 26th goal of the season as Jurgen Klopp’s men came within two points of fourth-placed Chelsea.
The form of victory will be as pleasant as Klopp’s score, as Liverpool looked much more like their old self before a trip to Real Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday. .
Arsenal are also in European action on Thursday in the Europa League round of 16 against Slavia Prague.
And winning that competition is their best chance to end a four-year absence from the Champions League, as Arteta’s men remain in ninth place, nine points behind the top four.
“Congratulations to Liverpool because it was exceptional today,” Arteta said.
“They can play at that level and today we saw the difference between the two teams when we played at that level. The margin is incredibly high.
“The standard has to be much higher for this football club.”
The Spaniard took responsibility for the loss, but asked his players to respond quickly to save his season by midweek.
“Right now I’m in a state of shock,” added Arteta. “Now it is a challenge and a challenge brings an opportunity.”
“If you represent a club like this, you have to stand up in the next game and accept it.”
Chelsea’s surprise 5-2 home loss to West Brom on Saturday opened the door for Liverpool to rekindle their chances of finishing in the top four and they seized their chance.
“We don’t look at Chelsea or whatever because we have to win our own games, but in our situation, other teams also have to lose games,” Klopp said.
“We have to keep working, but it is a good sign. We are still there. Tonight the package was extremely good.”
On Friday, Klopp expressed his astonishment that Trent Alexander-Arnold had been eliminated from the England squad by Gareth Southgate and the right-back showed his international coach what he was missing by creating the opener in the 64th minute.
Jota had only been on the field for three minutes when he encountered an Alexander-Arnold cross with a powerful header off the back post.
“Trent Alexander-Arnold showed his class again,” Klopp added.
“I said earlier, it’s Gareth’s decision. He’s blessed with the option he has in that position, but Trent is in good shape.”
Four minutes later, Salah closed out all three as the Egyptian edged past Gabriel Magalhaes before coldly placing himself under Bernd Leno’s advance.
The loss of center-backs Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip through injury has been attributed as the main reason Liverpool fell through the Premier League table this season.
However, Jota’s absence for three months due to a knee injury between December and March also played a role.
The Portuguese pounced on the back post again for his sixth goal in four club and country games to round out a miserable night for the Gunners with eight minutes remaining.
