As the final whistle sounded at the hallowed Emirates Stadium, the referee and his assistants, ever the spectacle in their three-man procession, exited the pitch amidst a rousing chorus of boos from the resident fans.
Was their displeasure justified? After all, none scrutinised when Virgil van Dijk, somehow escaped punishment despite the questionable act of kicking Kai Havertz. Maybe it was the denied first-half penalty to Arsenal, but even that is a bit of a stretch. When one starts feeling trace amounts of persecution, it is all too easy to perceive the world as conspiring against you. The reality is a bit more universally bleak, though: the world tends to push against all of us equally. Regardless, this crowd unrest was more reflective of a desire to latch onto any emotion, as the quickly dissipating memories of a spirited but strangely formless match faded into the background noise of the departing crowd.
Could this fixture be deemed a success? In a way, yes. Exhibitions of skill, energy, tenacity, and iron-clad defence were on full display. Yet, there was an undercurrent of dissatisfaction with this 2-2 draw. It felt as if more was to be divulged, a game that highlighted both the faults and merits of both teams.
For Arsenal, there was an over-reliance on the attacking prowess of Bukayo Saka while Liverpool seemed to channel a peculiar sense of an incomplete masterpiece under the direction of Arne Slot, one teeming with energy but lacking the necessary punch.
This clash stoked fears of the emergence of sterile, tactical football, each side utilising different facets of the Pep Guardiola possession and control blueprint. Emulating their nemesis, Manchester City seems to be a paradoxical endeavour. Can a team truly outdo another by replicating its strategy? Inspirations need to become escapes. The differential aspects become reactionary, undue compensation. At least with José Mourinho, there was some clarity in the chaos, a wilful desire to topple the establishment from its foundations.
Certainly, stark strategic and stylistic disparities exist between Liverpool and Arsenal. Under Slot, Liverpool’s focus is predominantly on maintaining dominance. Arsenal, on the other hand, has deteriorated into chaos, a squad that seems to constantly be embroiled in issues, conspiracies, triumphs born out of anger, and fluctuating feelings of vindication and flagellation weekly.
[Salah’s late goal salvages a draw for Liverpool against Arsenal]
However, their manner of play possesses similarities. The Premier League currently offers up starkly contrasting colours and isolated ball possession. Under Jürgen Klopp, Liverpool attempted to disrupt this pattern with a high-velocity Jackson Pollock approach, fostering chaotic colour blends amid the lines. Meanwhile, with Slot at the helm, they’ve adopted a Mondrian approach characterised by sharp, distinct lines and blocks of red and black.
The opportunity to secure victory presented itself when Arsenal’s defence began to falter in the second half, each part dissolving and hastily replaced with makeshift solutions — a hatstand, a broomstick, or even a raincoat-wearing Labrador. Liverpool earning a point was justified, but whether that will suffice remains to be seen. For the moment, with an ever-evolving team in October, it appears sufficient. However, the plot is all too familiar, and clinching the league generally demands more proactive play.
It would be unjust to insinuate that Arsenal performed poorly on this occasion. The first half essentially served as an offensive tour de force by Saka, whose performance eclipsed not just his teammates but the entire field. His artistry isn’t earth-shattering or extraordinarily inventive. In matches like this, he often mimics a wraith within the game mechanics, appearing the sole person capable of spotting and exploiting the unpredicted gaps in the rigid lines, akin to a lone knight amid a band of rooks and bishops.
Saka demonstrated his prowess with a splendid goal within the first nine minutes. A delightful, descending pass from Ben White initiated it, followed by Saka’s trio of flawless touches. The first an elegant skip and gather, the second saw him sidestep Andy Robertson with a rooftop volley that left the latter disoriented on the Emirates Stadium pitch, turning in time to watch Saka drive the ball into the goal’s proximal corner.
In the latter half of the game, Arsenal essentially faded away, a reaction that wasn’t entirely surprising. By the 74th minute, the back four was comprised of Partey-Kiwior-White-Lewis-Skelly, which felt reminiscent of a Wenger-era Worthington Cup. The whereabouts of Carl Jenkinson were unclear throughout.
Liverpool hammered in an impressive equaliser, courtesy of a brilliant pass from Trent Alexander-Arnold, a fantastic run and goal by Mohamed Salah, and a flawless in-field chip from Darwin Núñez. Yet, both teams’ efforts to capitalise on possession often seemed tantamount to attempting diligently to complete work on a laptop amidst a bustling, tipsy train car.
By the conclusion, despite evident positives from both sides, it was challenging not to feel that neither team struck one as true contenders for the title. Both have room for growth and will welcome back players. However, the absence of Martin Ødegaard leads to a tangible loss for Arsenal in manoeuvring the ball effectively during fragmented play. Notably, the most compelling aspect of Gabriel Martinelli is how he elevates Saka’s appearance on the field. It’s akin to having an exclusive cheerleader on the pitch.
Both teams have opted to smooth out their harsh aspects, choosing instead to strive for dominance and energy to varying extents. Despite Slot’s promising start, he will need to explore that intensity to secure victories in matches such as these. Meanwhile, this match once again seemed like another win for Manchester City by simply embodying their established tenets, the quintessential version of their strategy. – Guardian