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'We suffered like Liverpool suffered'

Liverpool lost 3-1 at Leicester after a 16-day gap between fixtures. We lost 3-1 at Liverpool after a 17-day gap between fixtures.
 
OK, it was actually 12 days between our win at Sutton and our defeat at Anfield but, for eight of our line-up, their last start was against Bayern Munich on February 15.
 
Arsene Wenger suspected it would hit us hard and so it did. Liverpool took advantage of our slow start to race into a 2-0 half-time lead - and effectively take the points.
 
“Yes, it was exactly the same [as Liverpool’s game at Leicester],” Wenger told Arsenal Player.
 
“It’s similar, we haven’t played for a long time and then it’s always difficult to get into the rhythm of the game again. But still the regret we suffered in the first half is that I feel the first goal was really avoidable. 
 
“From a direct long ball from the goalkeeper we conceded a goal. I don’t want that, even if we must say that Liverpool in the first half were better than us. I believe, as well, in the second half we were better.
 
“I think we missed our first half and I feel more for a lack of pace and rhythm in the game. Collectively we were not at the races. In the second half we responded very well. It was a game of two halves. Unfortunately we couldn’t come back to 2-2. but overall we had a strong response and we have to focus on that and take out for our next games.”
 
Danny Welbeck’s exemplary finish was the obvious highlight of our trip to Merseyside and, although the England man didn’t complete the 90 minutes, he is getting back to his best.
 
“Yes, I like the fact that he’s coming back game after game to his best level and that is very interesting for us,” said the boss. “Danny has worked very hard to come back and I am very happy for him.”