Injury-hit Arsenal deserve credit for Liverpool draw but title hopes suffer huge blow
ARSENAL 2-2 LIVERPOOL: The Gunners have finally managed to force themselves among the Premier League elite but it already looks set to be a season of frustration for Mikel Arteta's side
by John Cross · The MirrorMikel Arteta would surely have settled for a point before the game.
But by the end, Arsenal were cursing more dropped points and lost ground in an unforgiving title race with Manchester City the big winners from a thrilling draw at the Emirates. City are ominously five points ahead, Liverpool showed great resilience to twice come from behind and snatch a draw to suggest they will be Pep Guardiola’s closest challengers rather than Arsenal.
You have to give Arsenal huge credit for their performance which saw them finish the game with a patched-up defence in which NONE of their first choice defenders were playing in their normal positions. And they also played brilliantly in the first half, the first 45 minutes was arguably as well as Arteta’s men have played all season. Declan Rice, Mikel Merino and Thomas Partey were superb.
But the drop off in the second half was alarming because they appear to have run out of gas - as well as players - before the end of October. That is the bigger concern.
Liverpool were held to a draw for the first time in their opening nine games and Arne Slot will be happy because, while they are not setting the world alight, they are remarkably consistent and efficient. Mo Salah got the late equaliser to draw level with Robbie Fowler’s Premier League total of 163 goals and, with the Egyptian king as prolific as ever, they will surely be in the mix this season.
Arsenal have had a frightening list of injuries and William Saliba was suspended this time and yet Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber came straight back and were also terrific. But there were more injuries by the end as Brazil centre half Gabriel went off with a knee injury and Timber went off with cramp to be replaced by youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly who put in a fearless performance as a late substitute.
It does not get any easier for Arsenal and Arteta also could barely contain his frustration after Kai Havertz had the ball in the net only for referee Anthony Taylor to blow for a foul by Jakub Kiwior on Dominik Szoboszlai. It did not look it.
Taylor had a poor game generally from the moment that he missed Virgil van Dijk kicking out at Havertz after just six minutes. On a different day in a different stadium, that could have been a red card.
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Arsenal did channel their frustrations into their ninth minute opener. Ben White’s ball over the top released Saka, the England winger cut inside Andy Robertson and then rifled a shot into the top corner. What a start.
Incredibly, it was Saka’s 50th in the Premier League and makes him the youngest Arsenal player - at 23 years and 52 days - to reach that milestone.
But Liverpool roared back - in keeping with a brilliant, rollercoaster barnstormer of a game. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s superb corner was flicked on by Luis Diaz at the near post and van Dijk glanced a header into the far corner.
However, Arsenal regained the lead before half time. Declan Rice whipped in a curling free kick, Mikel Merino chased round the back and headed in with van Dijk’s outstretched foot playing him onside. It took painfully long for VAR to check and award the goal.
It got worse for Arsenal when Gabriel went off injured early in the second half but their levels dropped generally and Liverpool stepped up a gear. Alexander-Arnold’s ball forward played in Darwin Nunez, his low cross was perfect for Salah to slot in at the back post. Arsenal did not give up but could not find another and Liverpool just ran out of time.
Ultimately, it was honours even after a cracking encounter. Arsenal will be cursing but Liverpool’s resilience and belief will only be strengthened by twice coming from behind.
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