Arsene Wenger has conceded it may have been a mistake to play Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the 4-0 defeat to Liverpool just days before he made a £35million move to Anfield.
The England international was named in the Arsenal starting XI for the Premier League game back in August, despite it being widely acknowledged he might be about to join Liverpool.
The Gunners had a dreadful afternoon, with goals from Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Daniel Sturridge making it a game to forget for Wenger’s outfit.
Oxlade-Chamberlain would join Liverpool four days after the game and Wenger concedes he made mistakes that day.
‘It would be not fair to put the defeat at Liverpool, where the whole team had a bad performance, on one player,’ he said.
‘After that, on the other side, you analyse “did you make mistakes or not?” You cannot go home and say everything was perfect when you lose like we did.
‘I rate Alex highly and he knows that. After that, you want all the players to be respected who have played for us.’
Oxlade-Chamberlain will come up against his former side for the first time on Friday when Liverpool travel to the Emirates to play Arsenal in the Premier League.
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