Arsenal 3-2 Liverpool: By the numbers

This is a bit delayed because I found myself taking a mini vacation to San Francisco.

I got to enjoy this match with the wonderful Bay Area Gooners at their wonderful home pub of Maggie Magherys. It was very cool to talk with the people that recognized me and a great atmosphere to watch the match.

Let’s dig in and enjoy this very impressive Arsenal performance again.

Arsenal 3-2 Liverpool: By the graphics

Arsenal 3-2 Liverpool: By the numbers

6 – Shots on target for Arsenal, this is the seventh match this season where they have put 6 or more shots on target.

13.8 – Arsenal’s average shot distance in yards (excluding the penalty) in this match, this is the second lowest average shot distance for Arsenal this season.

8 – Shots total for Liverpool, this is the fewest they have taken in a match this season and the fewest they have had since October 3, 2021 against Manchester City where they only managed 6.

1 – Shot from Mo Salah, the fewest shots he has had in a match going back to February 13th last season against Burnley

5 – The number of times this season this season that Arsenal have scored 3 or more goals, Arsenal did it 9 times total last season.

2.56 – Arsenal’s current goals per match, their record for a Premier League campaign is 2.28 per match in 2004-05

44% – Arsenal’s share of total possession in this match

57% – Arsenal’s share of the final third possession in this match.

41 – Touches in the box for Arsenal, this is the most Liverpool have allowed since November 10, 2019 against Manchester City. This is tied for the 5th highest for Arsenal this season.

21 – Touches in the box for Liverpool, this is the fewest that they have had this season. This is also the fewest they have going back to April 10th last season where they managed just 19 against Manchester City. Arsenal also managed to hold them to 21 last season at the Emirates Stadium.

This was an interesting statistical match by the different periods of the game. Arsenal obviously got a goal in the first minute and after that sort of played a bit more passive. Arsenal looked to keep Liverpool out of dangerous areas, limiting them to just 12 final final third entry passes completed and 11touches in the box in the first half.

Arsenal ened the half with a great goal and carried that into the second half applying additional pressure. In the first 22 minutes of the first hlaf, Arsenal started their possessions on average 57 yards from goal compared to 85 for Liverpool Arsenal had 4 shots to 1, 14 touches in the box to 1 and 61 final third toucehs to 17. Unfortunatley that one Liverpool shot ended up in the back of the net.

Thankfully Arsenal were able to carry that over into the final period, winnin that 4 shots to 2, with 15 touches in the box to 7. It was really interesting that Liverpool could not significant sustainted pressure on the Arsenal box in the closing minutes.

Arsenal came away looking very much like deserved winners having passed a very big test in back to back weeks.

Martinelli and Saka have a big game perfomance

6 – Shots total, 4 for Saka and 2 from Martinelli

3 – Goals, including 2.6 expected goals. 2.0 for Saka and 0.6 for Martinelli

14 – Progressive carries, 5 for Saka and 9 for Martinelli

18 – Touches in the box, 8 for Saka and 10 for Martinelli

16 – Progressive receptions, 6 for Saka and 10 Martinelli

5 – Dribbles completed, 3 for Saka and 2 for Martinelli

33 – Pressures, 15 for Saka and 18 for Martinelli

1 – Key pass for Martinelli

3 – Progressive passes for Martinelli

These guys terrorized Tottenham and then just had the audacity to go and repeat it again against Liverpool. It is hard to remember two back to back performances in bigger games where Arsenal’s two wide players played at this level.

I don’t think that there is a pair of wide attackers that I would trade these two for right now. Martinelli feels like the league is walking up that he is an emerging super star with Bukayo Saka off to a “slow start” where he has produced 3 goals and 4 assists for a not bad 0.8 goals and assists per 90 this season.

I don’t think that you can discount the coolness with which he converted that penalty. I love watching these guys play right now.

Arsenal end another week at the top of the table and while Manchester City are freakily good, there has been nothing flukey about this Arsenal performance to start the season.

@oh_that_crab

Sources: Opta via WhoScored, my own database. StatsBomb via FBref.