Match Report – Match Highlights – Post-Match Press Conference Final Result: Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal (Salah 29? | Gabriel 4?) Arsenal XI (4-3-3): Ramsdale; Zinchenko, Saliba, Gabriel, White; Rice, Odegaard, Havertz; Martinelli (Trossard 68?), Saka, G. Jesus (Nketiah 78?) With just one point separating...
Match Report – Match Highlights – Post-Match Press Conference
Final Result: Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal (Salah 29? | Gabriel 4?)
Arsenal XI (4-3-3): Ramsdale; Zinchenko, Saliba, Gabriel, White; Rice, Odegaard, Havertz; Martinelli (Trossard 68?), Saka, G. Jesus (Nketiah 78?)
With just one point separating Arsenal and Liverpool at the summit of the Premier League table, the stakes couldn’t be anymore higher as both clubs battled for the right to stay on top at Christmas. Funnily enough, being on top at Christmas isn’t a guarantee to win the Premier League, as both Arsenal and Liverpool have been at this position in several recent seasons only to lose on the final hurdle to the juggernaut that is Manchester City.
As expected, Arsenal fielded an unchanged lineup from the side that was so good against Brighton, and the Gunners came out of the blocks swiftly with Bukayo Saka, sporting a Paul Pogba-inspired hair do, taking on Kostas Tsimikas before crossing a ball that was parried by Alisson. Gabriel Jesus pounced on the rebound but it was blocked for a corner. Saka swung in the resulting set piece that was attacked by Gabriel but his fellow Brazilian made a routine save.
Gabriel wasn’t to be denied a second time as the Brazilian defender beat Liverpool’s joke of an offside trap to nod in Martin Odegaard’s outswinger right on the money. That goal rocked the home side and some sloppiness ensued with Kai Havertz anticipating a back pass but Alisson smothered the ball before it could change to a big chance for Arsenal.
Liverpool’s first sniff at goal arrived when Wataru Endo chipped the ball to Arsenal danger and Cody Gakpo got ahead of Oleksandr Zinchenko to dink the ball to Mo Salah’s path. The Egyptian king with little room afforded his way, blasted a one-time shot that smashed David Raya’s side netting.
Salah had his key moment when he latched onto a sumptuous diagonal from Trent Alexander-Arnold, made mince meat of Zinchenko before blasting the ball to the roof of Raya’s net. We all know Zinchenko is atrocious defensively, but this took it to another deplorable level. It would have been better off if Salah was alone because the Ukrainian defender midfielder was non-existent.
An awkward moment arrived in the touchline when Saka shoved Tsimikas out of the pitch, but the Greek defender collided with his gaffer, and ended up suffering what looked like a dislocated shoulder. The same injury that currently sidelined Andrew Robertson. Joe Gomez came on in his stead and had a stormer.
Arsenal had a big chance to go ahead when Saka was sent through on goal with Alisson. The Starboy attempted to dribble the goalie and was clearly impeded, which probably would have resulted in a penalty if he hit the deck, but the ball fell kindly to Gabriel Martinelli that fired the effort wide with Alisson in No Man’s Land. Martinelli would go on to have one of his routine stinkers, before he was replaced by Leandro Trossard, that wasn’t any better.
Gomez came close on a couple of occasions and missed by a lick of paint but the biggest moment arrived when Odegaard got entangled with a teammate, which led an incisive counter attack from Liverpool. In was a heart in mouth moment for everyone connected with Arsenal as Salah led the charge with three of his teammates on the right hand side. Arsenal, on the other hand, had only Declan Rice at the defensive rearguard, who backpedaled as much as he could with the hope his teammates would catch on. Salah fed Alexander-Arnold and his quick-fire shot beat Raya but the cross bar spared Arsenal’s blushes.
That turned out to be the last big chance of the game, as both sides managed the game till it was time for the ref to end proceedings. Arsenal played well but lacked cutting edge and for yet another game, the wingers failed to impress. However, the hoodoo at Anfield remains and a point isn’t bad in the grand scale of things.
It certainly means that Arsenal are on top at Christmas.
Sayonara.
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