Monday 15 August 2016 09:51, UK
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admits his side were not physically ready to face Liverpool in their Premier League opener.
The Gunners lost 4-3 to Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium on Super Sunday, meaning no points from their first league game of the season.
Wenger selected a starting XI which was lacking key players Mesut Ozil, Olivier Giroud and Laurent Koscielny, who have been given extra time off after their lengthy Euro 2016 campaigns.
Centre back pairing Per Mertesacker and Gabriel Paulista were also missing due to injuries picked up in pre-season, with the young duo of Calum Chambers and new signing Rob Holding forming the centre back partnership against Liverpool.
During the match, Aaron Ramsey was forced off due to a hamstring injury and Alex Iwobi picked up a thigh problem.
The Arsenal team were booed off after the defeat, despite Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Chambers reducing the deficit from 4-1 at one point.
And Wenger admitted after the game that his squad were not physically prepared for the first game of the season.
"We pushed players today like Ramsey," he said.
"It is an impossible situation to get players back from the Euros and prepare.
"We played a very good first half and were unlucky to concede a goal just before half-time and after that, we paid for a lack of experience. We are not ready physically.
"You are in a catch-22 situation with the Euros, whether to give players a rest who need it.
"They are not ready to play this sort of game and get injured, like Ramsey, or you give them a rest and not have them for the start.
"You have to consider, as well, that we have been unlucky with losing Mertesacker and Gabriel, and having Koscielny not fit."
Arsenal's next match is away to Premier League champions Leicester on Saturday.
