Mikel Arteta rued Arsenal's dismal performance in the first 20 minutes against Liverpool, despite his side coming back to draw 2-2 and holding on with 10 men.

Arsenal gave Liverpool a guard of honour at Anfield to commemorate their Premier League win, and the Gunners then started slowly, with Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz both scoring within 87 seconds midway through the first half.

Arteta's side improved after the break, with Gabriel Martinelli scoring two minutes after the break before Mikel Merino, played just onside by Trent Alexander-Arnold, headed in their equaliser in the 70th minute.

However, Merino was sent off for a second bookable offence nine minutes later, receiving Arsenal's sixth red card of the Premier League season, though the Gunners held on for a valuable point as Andy Robertson's late winner was disallowed.

It was the first time since March 2021 – in a 3-3 draw against West Ham – that Arsenal overturned a two-goal deficit in the competition, but they have now won just three of their last 11 top-flight matches (D6 L2).

"What we did in the first half, the first 20 minutes, was nowhere near the level," Arteta told Sky Sports. "So, to do it after, it's too late.

"We reacted, great. But those 20 minutes were unacceptable. It's about action, not reaction.

"The action that we had after those 20 to 25 minutes, then the second half, that's what I'm [asking for]. But me? It's them. It's not about me asking.

"It's my responsibility when the team plays like this, it's on us or me? The 20 minutes, that's on me, for sure.

"It's not about the players. It's about us. Here, players, managers, nobody accepts those standards. They were nowhere near.

"In the second half, with all the respect, with all the things: the position we are in, 15 points behind, it hurts. It has to hurt a lot.

"Regardless of all the excuses, this is the sixth time we've played with 10 men this season, all the injuries, half of the starters not starting, look at what we can do when we're there. That's it."

Arsenal are winless in their last five matches in all competitions, coming into this match after three consecutive losses.

Their hopes of winning silverware this season were also ended on Wednesday as they were knocked out of the Champions League semi-finals by Paris Saint-Germain.

Arteta insisted their midweek loss in Paris was not an excuse for their slow start.

"Then you don't have to be fighting for trophies," he added. "Because when you fight for trophies, you might win it or lose it, but then there's another [match] and another one.

"So that's the level we have to assess ourselves. If not, you just accept things. For me, not acceptable.

"It's not about winning. Nobody can promise that you win. They [Liverpool] cannot promise that you can do what they want, and you go in the market.

"You have six or seven teams praying to be in the Champions League first, and then see if we can win silverware next season.

"That's it, it's not about that. It's about doing the basics, the simple things, where you can dominate.

"I'm not asking people to dribble past two players and put it in the top corner. Never going to do that."