"Arteta trophyless for another season", "Get rid of ego and drop Havertz" - Fans react as Liverpool knock Arsenal out of the FA Cup

Liverpool piled more misery on Arsenal by knocking them out of the FA Cup at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday (January 7) with a 2-0 win.

There were question marks regarding how Mikel Arteta would deal with the absence of Gabriel Jesus. Kai Havertz was tasked with performing in a number nine role.

Havertz was part of a completely wasteful first-half showing from Arsenal in which they should have been ahead. They nearly took the lead in just the third minute when Reiss Nelson rounded Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker but he couldn't find the net.

Martin Odegaard then rattled the frame of the goal in the 11th minute with a sweet strike. The hosts were purring but their issues in front of goal continued to take hold.

It was Liverpool's turn to hit the woodwork in the 45th minute. Trent Alexander-Arnold smashed the upright with a fierce effort to warn Arteta's side about the threat posed by the visitors.

Somehow Arsenal headed into half-time without a goal to their name. They wasted 13 attempts at Alisson's goal. This would eventually come back to haunt them.

However, they nearly grabbed an opener in the 58th minute when Odegaard caught the Merseysiders napping with a free-kick. He played Havertz down the left flank and his cross fell to Bukayo Saka who could only fire over the bar.

Aaron Ramsdale continued as Arsenal's cup competition goalkeeper and he produced the save of the match in the 77th minute. Luis Diaz's effort went through William Saliba's legs, but the English shot-stopper got a hand to it to turn the ball away.

Liverpool went close to putting themselves in front from the resulting corner when Diogo Jota's header hit the bar. It needn't matter though as they were ahead two minutes later.

Alexander-Arnold whipped an excellent free-kick into the Gunners' box and it cruelly took a deflection off Jakub Kiwior. The ball flicked off the Polish defender's head before falling into his own net.

Arteta reacted by sending on Eddie Nketiah, Emile Smith Rowe and Leandro Trossard. But, it was the Anfield giants who put the icing on the cake in the 90+5th minute.

Diaz got himself a deserved goal when he smashed into Ramsdale's top corner. The Colombian attacker took his tally for the season to six goals in 25 games across competitions to make it 2-0.

Arteta's men crashed out of the FA Cup, leaving their hopes of silverware resting on the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League. One fan thinks the north Londoners won't be lifting a trophy come the end of the season:

"Arteta trophyless for another season, been such a failure at Arsenal when you deep it all."

Another fan urged Arteta to drop Havertz:

"Arteta needs to get rid of ego and drop Havertz lol."

Here's how fans on X (formerly Twitter) reacted to Liverpool's win against Arsenal:

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Gary Lineker gives his verdict on Kai Havertz's wasteful performance in Arsenal's loss vs Liverpool

Kai Havertz struggled against Liverpool.

Havertz was guilty of spurning several opportunities for Arsenal that eventually led to them crashing out of the FA Cup. The German attacker had five attempts, placing just two on target.

The 24-year-old is used to playing in the false nine role as he did so throughout last season at Chelsea. But, he struggled in front of goal, lacking a killer instinct.

Gary Lineker analyzed Havertz's performance against Liverpool by insisting he's not a natural center-forward. He said (via The Mirror):

"He has had his opportunities but he just doesn't look like a natural No.9 that's for sure."

Havertz joined the Gunners from Chelsea in the summer in a £67.5 million deal. He's managed five goals and one assist in 29 games across competitions, playing a variety of positions.