“Needed so badly, man” - why Arsenal fans are pining for 22 year old’s speedy recovery

Over 24 hours have gone by from the latest misery at Anfield, and Arsenal fans, vloggers, YouTubers and bloggers have dissected the match, the flaws, the positives and lessons learned as they saw fit. Few received a scintilla of praise like Nicolas Pepe, while others like David Luiz were crucified and singled out for opprobrium and disparagement. Another player that failed to escape the angst of Arsenal fans, is veteran Spanish left-back Nacho Monreal.

Monreal toiled in a miserable afternoon for Arsenal’s fans, succumbing to the guile and panache of a certain Mohamed Salah, who seized a lionshare of the post-match adulation after a scintillating performance that was capped-off by a clinical brace. Reports have flooded in over the past days linking the Spaniard with a return to Spain by way of Real Sociedad. At 33, Monreal’s best days are behind him and as the below tweets convey, Arsenal fans are eagerly awaiting the return of big-money, left-back signing Kieran Tierney from a niggling groin injury.

Our full backs are a bigger issue that our center halves tbh. Even after Luiz lunged in, Monreal isn't quick enough to cover. Too often our centre backs covering full backs. They don't get back in time. Bellerin and Tierney needed so badly man

— LTArsenal™ (@ltarsenal) August 24, 2024

Leno - Bellerin, Holding, Sokratis, Tierney - Xhaka, Torreira, Willock - Auba, Pepe, Lacazette.

When all fit, this needs to be Arsenal’s team.

— AFCAMDEN (@AFCAMDEN) August 25, 2024

Liverpool 3-1 Arsenal | We Need Bellerin & Tierney In The Team ASAP! (Turkish)https://t.co/oMV2JZIyWe#AFC #AFTV pic.twitter.com/fEBvyi2Oko

— AFTV (@AFTVMedia) August 24, 2024