Mikel Arteta admits Arsenal must 'evolve' after Liverpool defeat

Mikel Arteta has assessed Arsenal's pre-season performances so far after they ended their tour of the United States with a 2-1 loss to Liverpool.

The Gunners, who defeated Bournemouth and Manchester United before facing the Reds at the Lincoln Financial Field, were unable to hold on as Arne Slot's side scored two goals before half-time to secure victory in Philadelphia.

A strike from Kai Havertz denied a clean sheet for Caoimhin Kelleher, while Liverpool star Harvey Elliott assisted for Mohamed Salah and Fabio Carvalho on an impressive outing.

Speaking to media after the loss, Arteta admitted that his side must 'evolve and improve' if they are to compete in the upcoming Premier League season.

"The team has to be constantly evolving and improving because the level is higher and higher," he said. "That's what we are trying to do.

"I think we are in good condition. I think we played some really competitive matches. [Liverpool] was a really strong test. I think we started the game fantastically well. I think after six or seven minutes we should be 2-0 up. Then we lost control, especially with two things that we didn't do well enough and we allowed them to run in transition, which is a really dangerous thing to do against them.

"In the second half we improved a lot and we deserved more. But it was great, really difficult conditions to play. Great crowd and we've got a lot out of it so I'm really pleased.

"Obviously we can improve. The game would have been very different if the first chance that we had, we scored but that's the goal. It makes the difference when you're in those areas in those spaces in the box, putting the ball in the back of the net and we created a situation, we had another two or three big open situations to go better but we didn’t, so we have to improve."

Arsenal will return to action on Wednesday when they host Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen at the Emirates Stadium. They're set to commence their 2024/25 season on 17 August when they face Wolverhampton Wanderers.

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