Mikel Arteta has revealed what he said to Trent Alexander-Arnold at full-time on Sunday following Liverpool’s 2-2 draw against Arsenal.
It was a tough afternoon for Alexander-Arnold at Anfield, who was heavily booed as he entered the pitch in the second half, six days on from the confirmation that he is set to leave Liverpool this summer.
The 26-year-old was jeered as he replaced Conor Bradley, as were his first touches on the ball. Fans also opted to sing the names of Bradley and Steven Gerrard, with parallels drawn between the latter and Alexander-Arnold in recent days.
While the boos died out as the game went on, and large sections of the crowd appluaded him, it was still a chastening day for Alexander-Arnold. The boyhood Red looked tentative and a tad unsure at the full-time whistle.
He clapped the fans and shook hands with the opposition on the pitch before making his exit.
Arteta, in particular, approached Alexander-Arnold at full-time and appeared to share a quick joke with the Liverpool player.
Asked after the game what he had said to Alexander-Arnold, Arteta explained he had merely congratulated him on winning the title.
(Image: 2025 Liverpool FC)
“I congratulate all of the players for that because they deserve it. They have been the best team and I am sure they have put a lot of work and joy into that title and they deserve to be congratulated,” he told Viaplay.
But Arteta seems less happy with his own players, who struggled in the first half and trailed 2-0 at the break, before an inspired display in the second period saw the Gunners rescue a point.
Arteta labelled the opening 45 minutes “unacceptable” when speaking to Sky Sports.
Asked in the post-match press conference what exactly he didn’t like about the performance, the former Everton midfielder said: “A lot of parts, especially the defending standards and the errors after we gave the ball away, which is totally prohibited against this team.
(Image: 2025 Getty Images)
“We were very far off it. I was really upset. Yeah, we had a reaction but I hate reaction, I like action.
“If we want to be there winning trophies, there is going to be a moment where you win it or you don’t.
“If you don’t, you have to play another one when you have been working for nine months. That is here, today.
“If you cannot win it, you have to be the best of the rest. I was really, really upset.”
