Two points lost or a point gained??? by Peter Doherty
What a game of football! This is a game that I wish I was a neutral watching so I could enjoy it, because watching it as a Gooner was so incredibly nerve-shredding. The sublime first forty minutes made us look like champions elect. We were smooth, confident and clinical, all the hallmarks of champions. Then enter Xhaka.
In the lead up to this game surely there had to have been intense focus on the necessity of keeping the Anfield crowd quiet. Particularly after last season when Arteta had his handbags with Klopp and transformed the dynamic of the game.
But Xhaka obviously didn’t get the memo. He has been rightly applauded for his self control throughout this season but on this huge occasion he let himself down badly. To exact revenge on Alexander Arnold for the Konate tackle was a reflection of an inability to keep your ego in check. So what if you didn’t get a foul, don’t start a pissing contest that will rile up the otherwise moribund crowd.
Arsenal were in cruise control and with one rush of blood to the head Xhaka had us nailed to the cross for the next fifty minutes.
The end of the season will determine if this was two points lost or one point gained. It is a game that leaves Gooners with completely conflicting emotions.
Here are my ratings…
Ramsdale: (10) Phenomenal. I have never witnessed a goalkeeping exhibition like it. He had no hope for the goals, but everything else he kept out. There were outstanding saves like his speed off the line and his timely spread to prevent Nunez when through one on one. There was several of that category. But then there were the worldlies. The finger tip from the Salah deflection was astounding, but for me the Konate save on the line is on another level. To have the reflex, the athleticism and the presence of mind to undertake that was on another level.
White (6) Was sublime and unruffled in the first forty minutes but was flapping at times when the Liverpool surge came. Was overwhelmed at times with the intensity.
Holding (7.5) Acquitted himself very well in the firing line. Was frequently blocking and toe poking and clearing when all hands to the pump. Remained focus throughout and the penalty concession was harsh.
Gabriel (7) Overworked in the second half and frequently dragged away from the centre of defence because of Zinchenko’s roving role. Was still instrumental in stemming the tide and made some vital interventions. Should have done better with the free header at the end of the game.
Zinchenko (5) Was completely undone by Alexander Arnold for the goal and was roasted consistently by Salah in the second half, who could have had a hat trick. Felt sorry for him as he’s not a left back when it was a game that we needed a left back, and should have been replaced a lot earlier.
Partey (7.5) Did what he could to stop Liverpool and was very effective in a lot of the efforts in doing so. Was totally dominant in the first half but when the surge came he was often outnumbered.
Xhaka (4) It’s harsh I know because he did lots of good work, but he’s a senior player and must shoulder the responsibility for letting his ego create the unnecessary friction. That was the pivotal moment and he was the culprit.
Odegaard (5.5) Even when we were bossing the game he wasn’t exerting his normal influence. In those circumstances he is generally the precise conductor but had some iffy distribution. When the tide turned he was overwhelmed and couldn’t get a hold of the ball.
Saka (6) Was typically dangerous in the first half as the Liverpool rearguard looked jittery every time he had possession. Tried manfully to try and lift the siege but couldn’t affect the game much in the second half.
Gabriel Jesus (7) Made an absolute nuisance of himself and had the Liverpool defence on tenterhooks. One cameo where he made a fool of Thiago and set up a counter attack demonstrates what he offers. Was surprised to see him come off as he was more effective than Saka for holding the ball up when we needed an outlet. Goes to ground too frequently though.
Martinelli (8) Was frightening in the first half and demonstrated why Alexander Arnold is not a defender. Scored a goal through persistence, and his assist was perfectly delivered. Put in a huge defensive shift as well.
It’s an unusual feeling to earn a draw at Anfield and be disappointed. We were very fortunate to escape with the point at the end so we will take it and move on.
How do you rate it?
Peter Doherty
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Ramsdale 9. Fabulous on the night but 10/10 in a 2-2 isnt realistic.
White 6
Holding 7
Gabriel 7.5. Both CBs were good but how do you rate Holding higher than Gabriel after conceding a clumsy pen?
Zinny 5
Partey 7
Xhaka 5
Odegaard 5. Typical disappearing act in tough games and atmosphere.
Saka 5. Should have been subbed of around 75th mark. Nelson should have been subbed on.
Martinelli 8
Arteta. 6
Jesus 7
One point gained, because the team obviously got intimidated by Liverpool supporters. I think we have improved a lot in ball possession aspect, but our attacking tactics are still not as good as Man City’s and Liverpool’s
Man City would likely win all their remaining games and have better goal difference at the end of this season, so we’ll need to get at least a draw at Etihad stadium and win all the remaining matches. It’s a possibility, but it would also be a mountain to climb
OT: Ornstein said Balogun wants to be a main CF next season and his contract will end in two years. I think Arsenal would probably offer Nketiah and him to other clubs in the summer
For Peter
Generally I agree with the ratings.
My biggest disappointment was Arteta. I would give him a 4.
A lot of us like GAI, AB and Grandad have been saying KT must play this game to nullify Salah.
Either one of Zhinchenko or Xhaka should not have started. When the game was going away from us, the sub of KT should have been around 55 min mark.
But it is still in our hands. We need 6 wins + 2 draws against (Man City and Newcastle both away) to win the PL by 1 point.
Chin up all Gunners.
What are you talking about Salah was in Gabriel’s pocket the whole game
Were you watching the game?? Salah was playing wide right. Gabriel was being dragged wide creating imbalance because OZ was ot good enough as a defender. Is that why Salah had so many chances and Ramsdale was our MOTM.
KT was needed for this game much earlier at 55 mins as sub or preferably from the start with either one of Xhaka or Zinchenko starting.
Well what you omit to mention is that the game plan worked before Salah’s goal.it went downhill from there. Salah should have been hooked early for Tierney,Ordigaard should have been replaced by viera and trossard should have been introduced earlier.we could have won this game
Game worked till then because Liverpool were so poor and nervous rather than us being good with the exception of Martinelli and Jesus who ran them ragged rather than tactics. Once they got mentally right I felt they destroyed us more than we did and we stopped playing.
Not sure about Vieira (feel he is not PL ready. He needs a loan spell). Maybe Trossard for Odegaard yesterday.
Arsenal’s game plan and tactics worked very well until late in the first half. Arsenal were excelling up to the “flashpoint”. Of course, it would be unfair and silly to blame everything that happened afterwards on one incident It would also be grossly unfair and remarkably blinkered to dismiss the performance up till then.
Odegaard for Viera ????
What does Viera offer that Odergarrd doesn’t
Sometimes some people’s comment & thinking makes me wanna puke
Are u even joking right now ?
Viera ???
Can’t tackle opponents, Runs and leaves the ball immediately he sees a challenge coming at him, Not as creative as Odegaard, Way to lightweight and shrugged off way too easily, Can’t pass better than Odegaard
If Odegaard got a rating of 5.5 cos that game’s intensity was so high – I bet you Viera can never do up to 3 in that same type of intensity
Viera ??? ARE U EVEN JOKING OR WHAT
u feel managers should just change/substitute for the sake of it
though I love Trossard so much there’s a part of me that felt the way the game had panned-up – Jesus should have been on that pitch till the end.
Not Jesus for Trossard (Maybe for Odegaard though)
Agree with everything you said. Did not want to put it in such strong terms to offend a fellow AFC supporter. I believe in being respectful to others.
Alternatively, 7 wins, 1 loss (to City) and we are equal on points assuming they win all of their games, so need to make up the goals deficit.
Could’ve been won by both teams with Ramsdale ls 3 great saves plus Salah missed penalty. Gabriel header and our counter at the very end to nick it would’ve been a crazy end to a complete game in the Premier League.
I for one am very proud of the club no matter what happens regarding us or city lifting the league. A few more additions to certain areas and we will be challenging again next year.
Martinelli is an absolute gem and him signing a new deal is brilliant as he’s the lightling in a bottle you only catch once every decade or so. Always on the go that young man.
We need to win our next 2 games before we play City there is no question about it of we are to have a chance of getting something at the Etihad to keep us in the race, City look real good atm though. Going to be a very interesting run in
Especially the next game to assert our dominance
This nonsense of blaming xhaka for getting the Anfield crowd going is just that, nonsense. So much has been made of it but if Liverpool fans need that to get them to support their team then that is shameful as we don’t need that sort of rubbish at the Emirates.
Also where has all this we can’t win the league we got a point ffs and we still have it in our hands
Win, draw, and lose together we don’t need to start the blame game let’s get behind the team again for west ham
AGREE.WE ARE ARSENAL,SO WIN,DRAW OR LOSE WE ARE ONE
ONE OBSERVATION NOBDY MENTIONED IS THE BIASED REFEREE .HE GAVE A YELLOW CARD TO WHITE FOR NON EXISTENT FOUL,AND THUS PUT WHITE ON ALERT OF NOT RECEIVING RED
FROM THAT TIME ONWARDS WHITE WAS NOT HIS USUAL SELF
Indeed it is simply absurd to blame Xhaka! What did he do to cause us loss of points? Did he score an own goal or fail to score in an empty goal? If you are going to fear the reaction of away crowds then you will only win your home games. Even if Xhaka had not done anything the Liverpool faithful would have got rowdy at some point in time especially if they were losing the game. So stop blaming Xhaka. In fact blaming Xhaka is simply idiotic!
Agree with you.
It was just a coincidence, that they scored 1-2 min. after the Xhaka/Trent incident, and if they hadn’t, we probably could have gone to half time 2-0 up, and it could have been a lot different.
For the young and less experienced in the team, it is also important, that players like Xhaka stand up and show, they don’t lie down and take other teams physical intimidation.
One small point for AFC on the EPL Table, one giant leap for the confidence of the players. The 885 club would have been here in full force had it been a loss. (As if the greatest manager in the universe won it after 2012) Their shocked at the result and the 30M what we paid for Ramsy boy is justified. Leno would have shipped in more than DeGea last night if he were there. Onto the next match. Well done Mikel and the lads.
🤢
Courtesy of the wonderful FBREF we’ve used the PSxG minus goals allowed metric to rank the top-flight stoppers this season.post-shot expected goals is expected goals based on how likely the goalkeeper is to save the shot. when the number of goals they have conceded is subtracted, we are left with the figures below. fbref explains that positive numbers suggest better luck or an above-average ability to stop shots. we’ve included only those goalkeepers with eight or more appearances.
1) Alisson (Liverpool): +11.7
2) Bernd Leno +6(Fulham):
9)Ramsdale:+1.4
So your argument that Leno would have conceded more goals than Ramsdale is being proven wrong!LC if you’re going to make claims,make sure you can back them up with facts.
ramsdale was exceptional and it is because of him we got a point. I agree by far with the ratings. I only think Arteta should habe made better and earlier substitutions. For example, Jorginho in place of Xhaka, Trossard in place of Odegaard and Tierney in place of Zinchenko. Well , its all done now and onwards we march. If we win all our remaining matches and draw with City, the title is ours.
We do not need 7 wins. We need 6 wins + 2 draws (against City and Newcastle away) to win the PL by 1 point assuming City draw with us and win the rest. Not saying 6 wins are easy but possible and necessary to win the PL with competitors like Man City.
Fake rating by a fake football fan. Instead of focusing on one player, a better view on wasted chances in the second half counter attacks should be discussed. And we have aplenty to finish off the game. Xhaka don’t deserve that rating because he was the best midfielder in the game. Attacking and defending. He got almost all second balls, rarely dribbled through, never out of position and cool composed passing the ball around in tight Liverpool pressing. Watch the game or check his stats. Don’t create fake info to blind the emotionally damaged. Xhaka didn’t retaliate. He was trying to win back the ball after no foul given by the savage Konate. Just a little nudge and Trent pushed and antagonised him. Konate also did the same. Rarely a foul compared to the savagery Liverpool players on Arsenal players throughout. Whether Xhaka stood up to that little punk or not, that rowdy microphone swearing Anfield crowd would have still risen up. Northern savages.
Xhaka is an easy target by opponents because he will always react when they antagonize him.
Team couldn’t hold the 2-0 lead, and Arteta got the subs and game management wrong, that’s why we dropped 2 points.
Liverpool grabbed momentum and our guys we unable to wrestle it back. Bit harsh anyone blaming Xhaka, when they could easily blame Zinchenko for not defending TAA that set up tying goal.
Could just as easily blame Arteta for not subbing Zinchenko for Tierney when Salah had joy all day down the side.
Time and again top opponents target Zinchenko at LB, and it’s a concerning weak link in defense. Zinchenko should compete with Xhaka at CM, rather than have such a poor defender at LB.
“Concerning weak link….blah blah” Shut up. Are you sure Tierney was not going to get ripped apart by Salah & Trent? Any player can have an off day, Zinchenko is the best we have in that position. The game has revolved, LB is no more about running the line and whipping in crosses, it now requires a more technical, well rounded player.
Our problem in big games have always been our midfield, Xhaka and Odegaard lack pace and Stamina, hence the pressure on the defence, although Zinchenko was outdone by Salah also,
All we need is 2 Parteys in midfield,
If only Arteta had brought in Jorginho, Tierney and Trossard, taking off Xhaka, Odegaard and Zinchenko, I feel we would have pushed pool back, although pool had alot of Pacy attackers, thiago thickened there midfield,
The blame should go to Arteta who refused to see that Zinchenko is a weak link in our defense all season. A technical and highly tactical coach would always know who to play in any given match. He knew that Zinny is poor in defense and yet he plays him until he cost the points. As a coach, he is too predictable. He is not learning fast. The same mistake will repeat against Manc and Newcastle. You can take it the bank.