Arsenal vs Liverpool: Instant Reaction

Thougths at full time

Straight into it.

Headline: Ran out of gas and defenders

There are only so many hits a team can take before it is too many. In this match it seemed like Arsenal found the limit and it was just a bit too much for them to overcome.

This was far from vintage Arsenal but overall, it was a day where the team played well. Both Arsenal and Liverpool seemed set out to frustrate the other and see if they can take advantage of a moment of magic from their key players or get something on a set play.

Ultimately both teams got exactly that.

Arsenal got it early when Ben White played a great ball over the top to Bukayo Saka who put Robertson on his butt and emphatically finished to give Arsenal a lead.

Liverpool responded with a set play goal that was well designed and well executed.

Arsenal got back on top with a set play of their own, where Mikel Merino finished a wonderful ball from Declan Rice.

Last, Liverpool got the late equalizer taking advantage of a tired Arsenal team and the make shift backline. Timber and Kiwior couldn’t keep Salah from getting on the ball from Nunez and he cooly finished.

Overall, this was a very even match and on the total chances not an unfair draw for the result.

It is hard to get too critical with Arsenal but my mind does sort of go towards, did Arsenal look to drop deep too often? Was there a sub that could have or maybe should have been made to help freshen the team up? Was settling for a 1 goal lead with this back line too conservative?

I might have to watch this one back to help understand the moves a bit better but right now I think yeah maybe there was.

Arne Slott made his big change at 63 minutes brining on 3 changes to go at Arsenal’s tired legs and Mikel Arteta didn’t really respond at all. His next change was at 78 minutes and that was forced on hm with Jurrien Timber not able to continue.

Arsenal withstood the pressure fairly well but it did feel that it was riding the luck somewhat with the makeshift nature of the backline.

With Saka and Martinelli dealing with injuries, while needing to help a lot with defense it does seem like with hindsight getting fresh legs in those spots would have been helpful. Alas it wasn’t.

A draw isn’t the worst result, but it does hurt to see two leads pegged back (and a potential winner chalked off).

Arsenal have put themselves in a tough position again for the title and used up a bunch of their margin for error already. With the tough run of Newcastle, Chelsea and Inter Milan in the Champions League away it won’t get any easier for the team.

Player Ratings:

David Raya: 5.5