It may have been twelve years since Arsenal last won away at Liverpool, but the team that Mikel Arteta put out yesterday were not in the slightest intimidated by the venue or the famous fanatical supporters in the Kop, and they went toe to toe with our closest challengers (at the moment) for the glory of being League leaders on Xmas Day.
In fact Arsenal were straight out of the blocks and a nicely worked move saw Gabriel head us into the lead after just three minutes, but we also knew that Liverpool, who had only lost one home League game in two and a half years, would attack like crazy in search of an equaliser.
Mo Salah finally won his way past Zinchenko after an incredible long pass from Armold, and pulled one back after half an hour. But although there were no more goals in the game it was a high tempo exciting end to end battle for the hour left in the game.
Arteta thinks that was one of the best matches he had ever seen, telling Arsenal.com: “(It was) an unbelievable game of football,”
“One of the most intense, active games that I have witnessed in 20 years in this league, and I’m just really proud of the team because they really were at their best today.
“We have the level, we have raised the level to the level that we needed to compete with them. What the boys did in this ground today, it’s phenomenal.”
In fact, the Boss thiks that Arsenal finished the game in livelier fashion than Liverpool and could even have left with all three points: “They left everything (out there) but the feeling in the last 20 minutes was that we’re dominant enough to put a chance away and win the game. But overall, I think it’s a fair result.”
I have to agree with Mikel; I was on the edge of my seat from beginning to end, and a performance like that at Anfield has given me even more belief that we really could end up as the Champions at the end of the season, don’t you?
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Totally agree Pat!!. Above allit was another excellent advert for Prem football and shows watchers thr world over that our Prem is BY FAR, the most thrilling . compelling and committed type football anywhere thr world over. As for our team , I posted just before tth gamne to suggest vwew do not overreact for goor or bad whatever thr result. That seemed good advice at the time , but I ADDED THAT I doubted I personally would take my own advice.
Well on THAT ALONE, I was right. It was afabulous perf and gives real belief that THIS year we are deadly serious title challengers.
Proud to be a Gooner, as I am constantly these thrilling days under a HUNGRY, COMMITTED , DEMANDING, MANAGER, WHO IS DESTINED FOR TRUE GREATNESS WITH US.
Arteta tends to get carried away with his use of the English language but his heart is in the right place and his enthusiasm towards his players is commendable.With my critics hat on,it was not an “unbelievable” match but it was a result which I thought we deserved overall.In terms of the performance of individual players, other than his failure to back up Zinchenko, by engaging Salah, Gabriel had another fine game and was ably supported by Saliba.No point in knocking Zinchenko as he is not a defender , but in the absence of Timber and Tomi who are both excellent man markers, I can appreciate why Arteta would be reluctant to throw Kwior in at the deep end against Salah.With a fit Thomas Partey to support Rice I suspect we would have had better control in midfield where Odegaard and Havertz worked hard throughout the game..Unfortunately, it was a game too far for Martinelli who needs a break..
I thought it was a brilliant game to watch, especially for the neutrals. It was quick, exciting and there was some lovely football from both sides, along with lots of shots, fouls from both sides and us being lucky, very lucky, to survive a penalty shout. Also great to see Klop dumped on his arse.
OT; Watching right now the Wolves v Chelsea match. A foul just outside the Chesea penalty area was blown for and took PRECISELY NINETY SECONDS from whistle til freekick was taken.
This is a regular happening throughout Prem games when a dangerous position free kick is awarded.
The SHEER TIME WASTED, where refs themselves, as well as the players, are complicit and actually CAUSE much of the wasted time, is a regular DISGRACE.
In as much as Mikel Arteta has praised his Arsenal team for their top quality performance against Liverpool in the Epl yesterday at Anfield.
In a Epl big game match in which there was no victor neither was there a vanquished in it. As the match ended in a stalement which saw us Arsenal remain on top of the table for the second week running.
But by and large, after the match paned out to it’s end at full-time plus. I believe the Gunners gaffer Mikel Arteta SHOULD review the performance of the Gunners in the math holistically. So as to know expertly the reason for his Arsenal team failing to win the big game match.
And afterwards, know what he SHOULD do next during upcoming January transfer window. For his Gunners team has not won any of their 2 big games that thry’d played at away to Chelsea and Liverpool in the 1st half of the season.
So that a repeat of the same result will not happen when next the Gunners play at away to Man utd, Man City,andTottenharan Hs. And even when next they play at home against Chelsea and Liverpool.
If the Gunners win all their 5 big game matches and at home beating Newcastle and Aston Villa including the bogey teams. The Epl title trophy win at the end of the season SHOULD be ours to lift it high
It was an intense game and pretty even but I would not go so far as describing it as ‘phenomenal’ or ‘unbelievable’. There were only a total of 5 shots on target, 2 for us and 3 for them meaning neither keeper had much to do. MA seemed very pleased with the draw but, I would imagine, so will Guardiola. City are our main challengers imo and will be just 3 points behind should they win their game in hand with de Bruynne, Haaland and Doku now close to match fitness. Let’s enjoy Christmas because the New Year is going to be challenging again!!!
I know why both Arteta and Klopp thought it was and unbelievable game. I think both of them did the most in-game management so far in their careers. The amount of tactical battle between on-field personnel was great to watch. Arsenal punched, Liverpool kicked, back and forth again and again in midfield by different players. The Anfield crowd rose and Arsenal shut them down. Of course if Tomi or Timber available, Zinchenko wouldn’t started. Say what you want about Zinchenko. His mistake never stopped him from trying his luck again and again. He was instrumental in maintaining control in the 2nd half. I’ve never seen Odegaard and Havertz defend so brilliantly before. Both our no8s ran themselves to the ground. The base trio of Saliba-Gabriel and Rice is the best in EPL. Even Trossard and Nketiah came in and continued the tempo. We managed to controlled the Liverpool team in the last 20minutes but couldn’t find a way to score the winner as they dangerously sat deep and countered. Liverpool tried to sabatoge us with a wet pitch but lost 2 of their players to serious injuries. Karma.