Arsenal Fail to Capitalise as Liverpool Hold Firm at the Emirates
It was Liverpool, however, that made the closest effort in putting one behind.
Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta. Photo/ Odd ANDERSEN / AFP.
By Ruth Sang
Two points dropped, tangled in memories of a cancelled party feeling, could have paved a well-built road toward unquestioned hegemony of Arsenal at the Premier League summit. Down the road, Manchester City was in limbo, affording grand chances to Arteta’s boys to build a tested cushion of eight points. On the rather gloomy side, they settled to share the spoils with life after being saved by the sixth point; hence, for them, a win felt more like an escape.
Prior to this fixture, home Gunners had proven perfect in front of goal until met with such gallant resistance of Liverpool. Despite all this, it is still a race for the title firmly in control of Arsenal, who kept Liverpool creeping up and putting their unbeaten run in order.
Cagey Contest in Difficult Conditions
Inside the Emirates, the chance of an exciting climax hung in the air as an odd sense of excitement gripped the crowd. Allowing a dive in the destiny of the title, the day of the match never really matched up to the expectations. Unrelenting downpours and winds, courtesy of a certain Storm Goretti, rendered smooth football an impossible task with both teams finding it difficult to stamp their supremacy on the match.
Arsenal heavily peppered the first half with territorial advantage; much of the time, Liverpool was kept bathed in its own half as it surrendered possession. Despite Arsenal’s domination for most of the time, no major opportunities were created to show for it. It was Liverpool, however, that made the closest effort in putting one behind. A casual back pass from William Saliba could have cost an Arsenal goal: Conor Bradley caught sight of David Raya’s high position on the pitch, and with utter audacity, his lob struck the underside of the crossbar as the helpless goalkeeper was already backpedaling.
What became a moment to distinguish the first half from largely boring 45 minutes went to each side locked in level frustrations at half-time.
Liverpool Take Control, Arsenal Lack Cutting Edge
The tempo shifted from half-time onward, with Liverpool growing in confidence and dominating possession. Despite controlling the larger share, the Reds lacked a poaching edge inside the box. Injuries to established attackers Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike, combined with the absence of Mohamed Salah through the Africa Cup of Nations, left Liverpool with little firepower to threaten Arsenal.
Jeremie Frimpong did, on occasion, cause trouble for Arsenal with his pace, but his end product did not back up his illustrious registration. Dominik Szoboszlai almost concocted another moment of magic like the one from the reverse fixture with his decisive free kick, but his dipping effort went just past the post.
Arsenal, in contrast, were shooting blanks on attack. Viktor Gyökeres had another difficult outing and was substituted; his drought in open play thus reached ten matches. Arteta then put his faith in nourishing healing, bringing on Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, Noni Madueke, and Eberechi Eze when all else seemed to be failing.
But, of little consequence to any impact brought in from these substitutions. Half a dozen agonizing minutes passed away until stoppage time, when Arsenal registered much changing thrust onto their shield; Jeses and Martinelli on different instances failed to trouble Alisson Becker with any shot seriously considered.
Title Race and Top Four Implications
While Arsenal will be disappointed not to fully capitalise on Manchester City’s recent slip-ups, the draw leaves them firmly in the hunt for their first league title in 22 years. For Liverpool, the point extends their unbeaten run to ten games and cements them firmly in a top four place.
With the draw keeping them three genuine points ahead of Newcastle and Manchester United in the contest for Champions League qualification, this draw, fiercely fought on a difficult north London afternoon, could prove to be an important feather in their cap.
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