ARSENAL’S DISMAL DEMISE IN ARSENE WENGER’S OWN WORDS

AN ASHEN-FACED Arsene Wenger entered Anfield’s media auditorium. He was economical with his words and only spent 130 seconds taking questions. Here are the highlights of his brisk press conference...

REPORTER: Arsene, can you begin to explain what went wrong?

WENGER: Erm… Everything. I think from the first to the last minute, we were not at the level requested for such a game. Not physically, not technically, not mentally… we were not at the level and we were punished. And that is basically it. It was a tough day. Of course you can analyse the chances we gave away but I just think overall the performance was not at the requested level.

REPORTER: Why? WENGER: That is a question that’s… that’s very difficult to answer straight away after the game. There are some reasons but I don’t think I have too much to comment on that now.

REPORTER: During your time at Arsenal, have you ever been beaten so comprehensively before like that?

WENGER: (long pause followed by a rueful laugh) My memory is not big enough. It is true that today that we were an easy opponent for Liverpool.

REPORTER: Will OxladeChamberlain be allowed to leave this week?

WENGER: That is the kind of question I cannot answer after a game like that.