Although an Arsenal victory against Liverpool at Anfield did not materialise today, there’s a prevailing feeling that the pendulum is swinging Arsenal’s way.d.
Under Mikel Arteta’s guidance, the Gunners navigated their way through one of the most formidable venues for any visiting side in their pursuit of maintaining their position at the summit of the Premier League table.
Recognising the Reds as their primary contenders for the Premier League title this season, the Gunners seem to be witnessing the emergence of a new rivalry between the two clubs.
The match unfolded as an intense, back-and-forth encounter, with Liverpool determined not to relinquish four points in two home games against both Manchester United and the Gunners.
Mikel Arteta’s squad initiated the game strongly, looking like potential champions and securing the opening goal.
Despite the setback, Liverpool, known for their resilience at home, managed to equalise through Mohamed Salah just before the halftime interval.
The second half mirrored the first, with Arsenal showcasing determination and resilience, signalling to Liverpool that the status quo was no longer acceptable.
Although the match concluded in a draw, Arsenal’s stellar performance and securing a point at Anfield, especially when Liverpool is in the title race, instils confidence in the Arsenal players that they could genuinely vie for the title of England’s champions by next summer.
I’m happy with the result
Obviously I would have been happier with a win but we drew at Anfield which isn’t easy
We are number 1 in the Premier League
COYG
Motm Saliba and perhaps Rice. Martinelli needs a break. He looks lost for a while now. Try Nelson for pacy attack in a couple of games.
Saka and Ode were naively losing the ball in the first half and early second half. Good thing is they went on an incline in the last quarter of the game.
As good as Jesus is, I feel he is very limited on the final third due to being indirect.
Still, a draw at a spirited Anfield against number 2 is a great consolation.
MOTM for me is Havertz. Brilliant performance! The calmest player tonight and broke a lot of very dangerous attacks effortlessly.
Had it not been for him the score would have been ugly.
Brilliant performance all around. The intensity Liverpool played with had it been another team they probably would’ve scored 7.
Clearly at this moment we are the alpha of the league.
I don’t know why, but players, from both sides, kept on losing their footings during the game. The pitch seemed slippery !
Too much respect for one another.
Jesus need to get training regarding where the goal post is! Martinelli just bowed to konate, in every one on one he just handed the ball with due respect to konate, he didn’t try dribble past him, or even tried to pass someone else but just bowed. We cannot expect to win title with such level of misfiring from our two forward, that will leave much burder on Saka shoulder alone. And no surprise Brazil is finding it difficult to even qualify for copa with these forwards. Just wonder if this level of misfiring will go on for eternity! Good point was Raya had best game in Arsenal shirt. And bad point is referee didn’t warned Liverpool enough when they were just pushing our player and used physicality to break our build up play. Over all game was balanced and drAw is fair result. Just waiting for the day when we can butcher them like we used to get hammered by them
Raya’s should have done better at his near post for the goal though. Wouldn’t call it a mistake but his positioning was a bit off for a top GK
That’s rather harsh on Raya. Difficult for any goalkeeper to have kept it out.
Obviously you know Jack Shite about goalkeeping. Flat footed, wrong footed, boby weight all back to front leaning out of sink. But in saying that, Zinchenko caused the whole ruckus. Zinchenko has done the same to Aaron Ramsdale. Whenever Zinchenko plays left fullback, he will always put his goalkeeper under pressure at the near post
That’s right about what was wrong with Raya for the goal. Can’t describe it as well as you. You are right about Zinc too
Not trying to be harsh. Just calling it as it is
Not harsh.
He marked than small angle for coverage. If the ball had gone in through other wide and unmarked angle, that is fine. But he marked but wrongly POSITIONED himself for that small angle. One feet to his left side, he would have saved it.
That is palpable untrue I dont know what you expect. Superman perhaps?!!
He had NO chance with that and performed well throughout. Your thinking is distinctly odd.
If I am not wrong I think this is the 3rd/4th goal conceding mistake that Zinchenko made this season,we have dropped points in 3 of them.
Very good performance.
We matched them every inch, and that is a very healthy sign.
Liverpool is a team which has gone radical change and also they didn’t have their best midfielder McAllister. In this scenario our gradually progressed team should have run the show. But they still managed to match us which shows that they are real deal, and probably it will be 3 horse race for title. Sadly we had lot of dangerous play in final third but much less productivity in front of goal as we hardly tested keeper through out the game.
Well, we are still a very young side, and that we could go to Anfield and match them is something to give a lot of credit for.
Liverpool may have struggled last year, but hardly any team has matched them at Anfield.
It was 2 superb teams fighting out an even draw.
Liverpool were up for it. Glad we got a point and are still top of the table
We were lucky to get a draw
Why GAI?
It was a very even game
Odegaard’s handball in our penalty box and Alexander-Arnold should’ve scored
Gai, don’t be too critical
I don’t agree we were lto get a draw. The boy put up a good performance coming away with a point. A field not an easy place to go.
This is football Arsenal had their moments via Saka been put through.. What of Havertz denial of a penalty? in some cases it could have been awarded.
The body-contact on Havertz was too weak to be considered a penalty
Odegaard was falling, so how can he stop his hand, natural position, that’s why it wasn’t given, Havertz on the other hand could have had a penalty, anywhere else on the pitch it’s a foul
I’m glad he wasn’t punished for that. But his hand blocked the ball, deliberately or not
I still cant believe a penalty wasnt given, for me Odergaard was very lucky. But it wasnt so we move on.
Hardly surprising Reggie. You believe that Newcastle scored a legit goal against us despite the two hands in the back off the floor (so full body weight behind it), handball, and the offside. In this case, however, had it been given it would have been soft but not outrageous.
Newcastle was outrageous but is what it is and you’ll never admit it despite seeming to believe that should be handball which does call into question a lot you sat but that would involve standards and consistency.
Seen a fair few neutrals point out that this game had decisions been correct should have seen two unbeaten teams face off against each other.
said not sat*
Stop being a fool Angus as usual, talking rubbish. What on earth has Odergaards goal got anything at all to do with the Newcastle gaol. Grow up.
Yes we were. If MA isn’t going to play Kiwior he needs to transfer in someone he can trust as an effective LB. What ever happened to that guy named Tierney?
Maybe Arteta considers Kiwior a backup for Magalhaes
As for Tierney, we don’t play with an overlapping LB anymore and he is injury-prone
He probably does but in the few occasions he has played LB, he has looked very promising. I know Tierney’s history but my point is he or any other “old school” LBs would have been more useful than Zinny even those who know how to overlap in the attacking third. Sometimes we need defense more than ball control and the potential for a great offensive pass every now and then.
I wonder why no one is saying well done to Raya today. He did well and even aerially.
I was thinking the same thing. I believe it was easily his best performance of the season. Finally getting more comfortable with the situation I hope.
Three months out with hamstring injury
Tierney yet again has spent most of the season injured at Sociedad. Love him as a person but odd agenda you are trying to run here whilst we are top of the league at Christmas for the 2nd year running.
No agenda except to point out that there are matches where we clearly need a left back who is a decent defender and MA obviously does not agree. Tierney has not always been injured but I’m quite sure if he were healthy and still in the squad, he would have still been on the bench sitting beside Kiwior.
Very lucky I would say. Though, we did well, but you could feel the electric Anfield atmosphere got some of the players nervous at times.
All in all, a good share of the spoil at the Merseyside is not bad.
Arsenal were obviously nervous in the first half. But it was much better in the last twenty minutes of the game, after Liverpool lost their energy to press us
We’ve never won at Anfield for more than one decade, so a draw is okay. But we missed the opportunity to give them zero point and I don’t think other teams will be able to stop their excellent form
Manure almost did last week and look what happened to them when they went to the Hammers today. It was a fine effort from the lads today but imo our form was way off as was LP’s.
Yes i agree GAI, we were quiet lucky, i think they outclassed us in the first half with their high pressing just after we scored. They quickly got back into the game. Zinch was awful letting salah passby and that led to the goal. We made too many mistakes i believe. We def lacked a killer stricker, someone like halaand. Saka i believe has lost his form compared to last year or may be opposition found a way to keep him quiet. Martinelli was completely lost. I Praise the defenders, they saved us once again.
Here we go again. Zinchenko starting against Mo Salah. What must Kiwior be thinking as he sits on the bench?
That we can not play our normal game from the back with Kiwior instead Zinchenko. We lose something defensively but gain more control. Overall with Kiwior Liverpool would have more possession and more effective press, and maybe a better chance of winning.
That’s the narrative alright. How many clubs have to play a midfielder in their defense in order to break the press? Lets get back the goals scored by AV and LP (not the ones they theoretically would have scored).
I see your point. Kiwior may be more sound defensively but less press resistant
Wtf! Kiwior barely plays and you want to start him away at Anfield against Salah? I’ve heard it all now!
Yes! Obviously you haven’t heard it all but thanks for the insult.
Kiwior was rinsed by Bakayoko. Not sure he’d fare better against Salah.
This was a spirited performance tonight with so much at stake for both teams and the stats shoes at the end how close it was. It was also an away match at a top club whose home record is borderline exemplary so complaints about individual players to me are wide of the mark. It was a hard fought team effort and nitpicking is unnecessary
I also fail to understand such criticisms after such impressive performance. Good performance is not only winning but also not losing against difficult opponents.
Whenever I think about Anfield, I remember feb 2014. I was in England on the business trip and I watched the game in the pub. We have grown so much since then. Anyway, this isn’t a place where the title is won, so a great result for us. COYG!!!
Vlajko, it was in 1989!
No, it wasn’t. We were 4-0 down in first half, and it ended 5-1. Rogers was their manager back then.
Great result at Anfield. Very even match. Just 2 more matches to go before break. We managed to stay on top despite playing 2 toughest away matches against Villa and Pool. Both I think are undefeated at home for quite a long time..?
West Ham next, they’re on a good roll so we need to put on 100% effort once again.
Martinelli doesn’t know what to do in the final third many times now and always loses the ball. He needs to be benched for a while.
The Zinchenko issue can no longer be glossed over. The man is not suitable as a defender. He is too casual and weak. Why didn’t Kiwior play in place of Zinchenko? If I recall correctly, this seems to be the fourth time Zinchenko has lost a ball resulting in a goal. Surely, this is something which must not be allowed to continue. Enough is enough. Let Zinchenko be shifted to midfield but he should not displace Rice or Kai Havertz because they are fighters who put up such a commendable show unlike Zichenko. Perhaps he needs to start on the bench until he improves on his defending.
Phew. That was hard earned A lot of sweat and not much style. I hope we can keep the intensity going in the long stretch but I am worried that we aren’t providing more of an offensive threat. Hope Arteta can overcome this or things could fall flat.
Zinchenko is definitely our defensive weak link. Liverpool knew this, that’s why most of their attacks came through that wing. Did it pay off, sure!
Zinny in this kind of game is always a risk. That said I our decision making in the final third was really poor.
Martinelli, was he scared today or something?
He looks completely a shadow of the players that scored against Liverpool last season.
Rice, Gabriel and Saliba were fantastic, whereas Odegaard, Martinelli, and especially Zinchenko were very poor. We were lucky to come away with a draw, bu, but I am glad we didn’t if Martinelli had taken his chances we could have won this game. At times we seemed to fold when pressed, we were very fortunate tonight, how we got five yellows to Liverpool’s two is baffling .Salah should have walked for dissent, Dalot of Man Utd did exactly the same. But I am happy we didn’t lose. We need someone up front who can be clinical. We are yet to hit form, so far it has been stop start, and yet we are top. What a difference Rice makes to the team
Rice,Havertz,Saliba and Gabriel had to put a lot of shift today both defensively and offensively they were the only players bullying Liverpool throughout saka come good in the second half Martineli seemed to be tired before even kicking the ball Odegaard did well Raya didn’t have much to do White wasn’t sure of what to do totally confused Jesus did ok.
A dominant win would have made us firm favourites for the title. As it was a draw is a good result. Top at Christmas 2 years running now (turning that into a negative involves insane mental gymnastics.) A lot to be seen in the title race yet but one thing is for sure Arsenal is now in the Man City/Liverpool discussion for titles.
That is a big change even the negative types wanted Arsenal to progress where we were 3rd City/Liverpool were unopposable in most minds at the time. Think the fact we have disrupted that and are that has gone under the radar a little overall. We’re at a point where Liverpool are being given credit for a “rebuild” with Salah, Trent, VVD and Allison
Angus, actually “a dominant win” would NOT have shifted City who are and still would have anyway remained firm title favourites.
All that would have happened was that our odds would have shortened a little but not dramatically I am a pro bettor and FULLY understand how odds change and what causes them to change.
One MERE GAME OUT OF 38 WOULD NOT HAVE SHIfTED THE ODDS MUCH AT ALL, despite your incorrect claim. The rest of your post spoke sense though!
Point to the negatives is imagine it wasn’t arsenal last 2 years but another. What would you be saying about that side?
We need a proper left back who can actually defend for me the only position for Zinchenco is in the old Xhaka role he is to much of a liability defensively and has cost us to many times now Arteta must see this and change it otherwise any hopes od challenging for the tittlewill very quickly dissappear!
January transfer window will be opening soon and if Arsenal are serious about winning the league then we need a world class goal poacher and a world class LB because Zinchenko is not world class that’s why city let him go
The difference in our playing style this season versus last, was so evident today and I praise MA for his learning curve when playing against the other top clubs.
Last season was like watching an AW team, inasmuch as we attacked no matter what – this season there is more grit and determination, with the emphasis on our strongest area… the defensive side of our game.
I read fans singling out individuals as being poor but I just don’t see that.
Yes, Zinchenko is not a LB, but he refused to give up and was up against one of the top players in the world today.
I’m going to thoroughly enjoy seeing The Arsenal deservedly sitting on the top of the pile over Christmas and can’t wait for the West Ham game.
Great analysis. However the downside of the current system is that we don’t score enough to kill the game as we used to last season. Not sure if it’s down to the tactics but one thing for sure is our forward lines are not efficient infront of goals.
Not scoring enough has very little to do about our game plan, but lack of a quality striker.
We should have made two goals today and it would have been enough to get all points. I’m sure we are going to recruit a new striker in January or next summer COYG 🔴⚪️
Arsenal shouldn’t have lost at St James, and they should definitely not have lost at Villa Park. That would have given the club eighteen straight (18), and a slight smell of Invincibility. A Merry Xmas to you, sir.
Good evening Ken, Iˋm totally agree with your observations. The change of playing style does probably have a name, Declan Rice.
Agree Didrik and maybe a little Raya distribution thrown in?
I really do wonder why fans cannot see what an excellent team performance it was against a team that was being tipped to give city and us a run for the title.
With the crowd behind them, I believe they thought we would roll over – we didn’t.
As for the penalty claims, both should have been given in my opinion, but the officials messed it up once again.
A fine and committed perf. I feel proud to be aGooner these days.
SALIBA deserved his MotM, with strong perfs from Rice Gabriel and Havertz.
Poor by Odegaard, Jesus, Saka too, who was not involved nearly enough. Martinelli worked hard, as always but his timing was off. But overall it HAS to be a positive result and especially the FULLY COMMITTED PERFORMANCE.
Ken,
Could not agree more!
I have to disagree with a few about the performance. I think we were wasteful inefficient in retaining possession and I have to praise the fact that the 2 CB’s and Rice are there or we could be in for a rout. As far as players Martinelli has gone backwards ( i could barely watch him circle around himself), Saka seems unable to shake defenders or hold on to the ball,, Odegaard was average and Jesus below average today. This was a game where we could have walked away with a nice result but at least we still on top. We will need reinforcements in January to have a shot at the title
You are spot on with what you say. I think Martinelli needs a rest and coaching. He has ability in spades but very naieve.
Great game, really enjoyed it, correct result in the end, both sides missed chances, but we are top at Christmas. Let’s just enjoy the fact they didn’t beat us and we could have beaten them. Honours even.
Its a massive point if you ask me, can’t believe I could say man of the match to the big German without him actually scoring.
But it was a complete team performance by the London side.
Well fought for point…
Stella performance? Rice, Gabriel, and Saliba were amazing and Martinelli terrorised them early on, but everyone else was poor or average.
I’m getting sick of Odegaard’s constant under performing and Zinchenko is a joke; he has no idea what he’s doing or how to defend.
I’m gonna come right out and say it: I think Martinelli is better than Saka. Saka is becoming quite predictable, always turning and passing backwards.
Martinelli was only good for 30 minutes.
Yes, that’s why I said he terrorised them early on.
A very good point under the circumstances. second half we were under the cosh a bit and under pressure, struggled, not for the first time to keep the ball. We were a little naive when the heat was turned up but clung on well in the end. Zincheko was a shambles and looked overwhelmed. At fault for their goal and many other mistakes. Martinelli looked great for 30 mins and again, not for the first time, faded badly.
Arsenal are still a work in progress. I think I know what Arteta is trying to do. Sort out the defensive (including a Goalkeeper)and midfield lines to make us solid then buy forwards who can score more consistently. In this game, that order is the most important. If you don’t concede then you don’t lose. He’s very clever. I wouldn’t be surprised if we bought 2 forwards in the near future.
Am happy we came back with a draw. It’s time Arteta have a talk with our full backs. White and Zinchenko are too soft and naive in those positions. He should also try and change player’s mentality of too many touches. Odegaard and Martinelli being the most culprits. Finally, the need for a striker and a midfielder growing by the day. God forbid should Rice get injured, we will be doomed. I wonder where we would have been without Rice this season and this is not over statement. Arteta use your bench. Some players need a break.
We should be happy sitting at the top of the table at such a moment. Epl is not a walk in the park.
Some points to take home
1. We need a top level C.F soon.Both Nketiah and G.Jesus aren’t up to task in that role.
2.Martineli is a talented lad,we are lucky to have him.Unfortunately he lacks experience and shows alot of immaturity in his play which may cost us winning a trophy. If we get a C.f then G.J should be preferred in that position as a starter,with him as a sub.G.J is more mature,more physical and always fights to the end.
3.Our full backs need upgrading more especially the L.b.Cant we find a younger Luke Shaw anywhere on earth?With due respect to Zinch,just like last season,he is our weakest player in the team and surely we can’t keep on overlooking this.
Why is everyone picking on Martinelli when there are a bunch of players no better or worse than each other. For example Odegard for all his experience rarely performs well under pressure, Saka is becoming constrained, White brings nothing when going forward, Jesus can’t score consistently, Trossard can be brilliant but only now and then and Harvertz is a one dimensional player who can at times be ineffective. What I’m saying is that this team isn’t perfect but we have enough talent for it to achieve results more often than not and over the long run Martinelli is no better or worse than most of his team mates. God help us if we lose Saliba or Rice to a long term injury though.
Liverpool had played in midweek and they had a 2nd choice midfield. This was the best chance to beat them. Still we could not beat them. We lost 2 points.
In case you have forgotten, we were at anfield where quite frankly is one of two places that are the most hostile to visit in all of Europe ( the other one being Santiago Bernabeu). Just take the point and move on…
So we are not missing Partey? Tomi and Timber? Whilst I don’t consider Vieira to be big miss, he is still out for several weeks
It’s a squad. It’s about mixing and matching at times whichever team you support imo
The rate of injuries a club endures levels out in the long term. Actually we are not doing too badly this season compared to other seasons where you probably had the likes of Wilshire, Ramsey, Carziola, captain Kos, the Ox and possibly Bellerin all running into each other in the treatment room on a daily basis. Compared to Brighton with their limited squad we are actually having it good, fingers crossed.I do agree with Gunnerbyheart however that this game was an excellent opportunity to break the Anfield drought. Like us they have not been winning convincingly and are two players short of being the team they were three years ago. I think it’s a bit rich for Arteta to call it a “phenomenal performance “. I guess it’s a hyperbole that lost in translation”, when” very good “, or “professional ” or “I’m proud of the lads for hanging in there and giving them something to think about” might have done the trick.