Arsenal star Nicolas Pepe shows flashes he has what it takes to lead the Gunners despite poor defeat at Liverpool

FIRST THE good news.

On his first Premier League start Nicolas Pepe suggested he has what it takes to become a true force for the Gunners.

Indeed only five minutes in he became the first player since Mikel Merino in 50 games to dribble past Virgil Van Dijk.

The £72million club record buy might have nicked the opener had he kept his cool.

And had boss Unai Emery been more adventurous in his tactics would surely have continued to trouble the Champions League holders.

After that, however, it was more of the same as, once again, Arsenal found themselves overwhelmed.

They are without a win in their last seven games at Anfield and the only mercy as that this time, they did not go down 5-1 like last season.

More of the same, also, from David Luiz.

In other words he is an accident waiting to happen and his performance only gave further credibility to those who questioned his arrival from Chelsea in the first place.

He tried and failed to man handle Virgi van Dijk as Joel Matip headed home the first.

His pull on Mo Salah’s shirt early in the second half was so obvious it was like a caricature of so many of his mind-bomb moments at Stamford Bridge.

Arsenal made a decent first of most of the first half until Matip scored.

After that Jurgen Klopp’s side were just took good for them.

And Emery, joke or not, is right – Arsenal never want to play Liverpool.