Why Laurent Kosceinly, Per Mertesacker missed Arsenal goalless draw with Liverpool

Arsenal fans were stunned yesterday, Monday August 24 when they saw their first choice defensive pair of Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker missing from the starting 11 of the team against Liverpool.

Arsenal had to do with the defensive pair of Calum Chambers and Gabriel Paulista in the 0-0 draw with Liverpool.

After the game, Arsene Wenger revealed that Mertesacker was sick while Koscienly had a injury.

"Mertesacker is sick. How long will that sickness take? I don't know," Wenger said after the game.

"Koscielny has a back problem. Having said that, our two centre backs played well in the second half."

The two central backs were however shaky with Petr Cech the saviour on several occasion, keeping out a close range striker from Christian Benteke and a curler from Philippe Coutinho.

Liverpool were unlucky not to go into half-time with a lead as they dominated proceedings.

They were however lucky as an Arsenal goal from Aaron Ramsey was wrongly ruled offside. Replays show that the midfielder was onside when he collected the ball from Santi Carzola.

In the second half, the table turn as Liverpool were pegged down by Arsenal who had Mesut Ozil in the centre of action.

Oliveir Giroud was smartly denied by Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet who dived to this right to stop a close range striker.

The game finished 0-0 and is now five league games at home for the Gunners without a goal at the Emirate Stadium.

Watch highlights of Arsenal's loss against West Ham, below: