Players 'not ready' Arsenal coach Wenger says after 3-4 defeat

Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger has said injuries and the lack of physicality resulted in a 3-4 home loss to Liverpool in its English Premier League opener.

With defenders Per Mertesacker and Gabriel sidelined with injuries and top players Laurent Koscielny, Olivier Giroud and Mesut Ozil missing the game after the Euro journey, Wenger had to replace them with young players here on Sunday, reports Xinhua.

"Physically we are not ready. You have to sometimes accept that you cannot control absolutely everything, even if you try to be as intelligent as possible," Wenger told reporters after the match at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal will play their next match away defending champions Leicester on Saturday.

But Wenger could not confirm whether his crucial players like Koscielny, Ozil and Giroud would be ready for the clash.

--IANS

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