Arsenal lost a thrilling opening fixture with Liverpool today at the Emirates, going down 4-3 to Liverpool in a game where they fought gamely but just perhaps missed a bit of the defensive nous or steel that could have eased them over the line. Question marks were drawn in particular after the game at the selection of Calum Chambers and Rob Holding at centre-back for the Gunners; frustrations were aired, too, at the fact that Arsene Wenger had failed to secure significant big names in the transfer window. In particular at the fact that one target, Alexandre Lacazette, scored a hat-trick for Lyon in their opening Ligue 1 game against Nancy on the same day Arsenal played the Scousers.
Alexandre Lacazette scored a hat-trick for Lyon today in Ligue 1.
He would completely transform our side. pic.twitter.com/O3PHEPFVPM— Arsenal DIRECT (@Arsenal_DIRECT) August 14, 2016
Arsenal's main signing, Granit Xhaka, from Borussia Monchengladbach for £34m, came on in the 68th minute but managed to commit the second most fouls in the game.
So, understandably, the Arsenal fans weren't happy. And, predictably, they took to that great refuge of intelligent discourse and debate and bastion of level-headed reflection, Twitter, to let their views be known to the world.
Had all summer to prepare a squad to be ready from day 1.
Spent half of it working for French TV.
It’s never his fault though.#WengerOut— Andy (@yorkshiregunner) August 14, 2016
#wengerout is now trending in #Dublin https://t.co/RrBA6lQCsP
— Trendsmap Dublin (@TrendsDublin) August 14, 2016
No club abuses their fans like @Arsenal. Most expensive tickets, perennial underachieving...#wengerout #AFCvLFC
— Nels Johnson (@mnelsjohnson) August 14, 2016
Arsenal on Snapchat before today's game. What begins? Twitter polls? Lads tweeting #WengerOut by the bins? pic.twitter.com/ab7j9w8Rlo
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) August 14, 2016
As the final whistle blew, boos ran out around The Emirates Stadium-something Arsenal legend Thierry Henry didn't exactly condemn:
"1st game of the season & they are booed off?"
Were #AFC fans right to boo?#SuperSunday
https://t.co/0I032n3kyb— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) August 14, 2016
The response of Arsene Wenger to the questioning by journalists after was depressingly familiar from an Arsenal fan point of view.
For those asking, yes of course Wenger was asked why Arsenal are "not ready" yet. He cited the Euros, injuries, usual early-season rustiness
— Oliver Kay (@OliverKay) August 14, 2016
The Gunners don't exactly get a chance to ease up next week, either, with a trip to the champions, Leicester, on the cards.
