Premier League Match Recap: Arsenal 2, Liverpool 2
The statistics affirm it all. Mohamed Salah is not only an asset against the Premier League’s more modest teams, he continuously harms Liverpool’s opponents in the infamous Big Six. His consistent performance was evident once again in this match.
The initial half of the game revolved around the stellar performance of Bukayo Saka for Arsenal. A fantastic opening goal marked his contribution which, followed by support from Virgil van Dijk, gave Liverpool a necessary boost. Additionally, Mikel Merino netted his first goal for Arsenal, giving Mikel Arteta’s side the air of a significant triumph in a match they could not afford to lose.
However, the game took a turn in the second half with Arsenal suffering losses, as Gabriel Magalhães and Jurriën Timber reeled from injuries. This significantly affected their defence, which was already under strain. Despite this, Liverpool relentlessly pressed on. They didn’t craft many scoring opportunities, but they made the little they had count. Salah capitalised on these chances, contributing to a final score that heightened the positive morale under Arne Slot’s management.
The decisive pass came from Darwin Núñez after an outstanding assist by Trent Alexander-Arnold, setting up Salah for the score. The ball reaching him on a low cross, Salah’s precision was unquestionable. Salah’s record now stands at a remarkable 62 combined goals and assists in 73 appearances against the big four, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, and the Manchester clubs. Salah has now scored his 11th league goal in 15 appearances against Arsenal.
The match ended in a balanced draw, although there was outrage from Arsenal towards the end when substitute Ethan Nwaneri’s goal was deemed offside. The referee, Anthony Taylor, had blown his whistle beforehand though the exact reason remained unclear.
Prior to the match on Tuesday, Arteta had expressed doubts over Saka’s participation, who had been off the field since England’s match against Greece on October 10th. However, Saka gave a strong performance, showing no signs of any previous setback.
Reflecting on how the opening goal was achieved, it’s essential to note the intricacy with which space was artfully controlled. Andy Robertson was effortlessly outmanoeuvred by Saka’s captivating skill. Saka’s primary interaction had been to navigate a long-range ball from Ben White upfield, however, it was Saka’s second manoeuvre that was particularly noteworthy; a clever nutmeg on Robertson, using the exterior of his left foot, as he bolted inwards. The move even introduced a stun effect, opening a chance for Saka to shoot. The ensuing goal was a powerful shot into the high interior of Caoimhín Kelleher’s nearby post.
However, Liverpool did not remain disadvantaged for a significant duration. Van Dijk’s determination was clear from the start when he clashed with Kai Havertz away from active play, and even directed a twin kick at the Arsenal striker. A free-kick was issued, but no additional enforcement was made, causing bewilderment. As a result, Van Dijk became a focal point of the home crowd’s attention, but he remained nonchalant.
Following an error by Merino, Salah missed an opportunity when Van Dijk courageously placed himself in harm’s way, ultimately equalising for his team. This was facilitated by an accurate Alexander-Arnold corner from the left, with Luis Díaz making the initial touch ahead of Havertz and Van Dijk finalising with a decisive touch amid a swarm within the six-yard zone.
After that, Arsenal bounced back. Their first-half intensity was breathtaking, with Saka’s performance being equally captivating. Every inward surge from him brought on trepidation. Being consistently fast and elusive, he was perpetually in command. He was subject to several hefty collisions and it seemed to Liverpool that it was their only countermeasure.
Arsenal rightfully regained their lead before half time. The goal followed a notably extended video assistant referee review. A rehearsed free-kick strategy was tested in the 19th minute, with Declan Rice sending the ball in from the right and Merino timing his run perfectly. In the previous attempt, he ended up entangled with his own teammate, Thomas Partey, and the opportunity was squandered. However, with the clock reading 43 minutes, Merino executed it flawlessly, his arching header bulging in the net while Van Dijk’s boot played him onside.
Gabriel Martinelli found himself thwarted by Ibrahima Konaté’s last-ditch tackle around the 30-minute mark and missed a scoring opportunity by shooting over the bar from a good position. In the closing stages of the first half, a header from Alexis Mac Allister was aimed too directly at David Raya, and Liverpool had to reassess their strategy during the interval.
Arteta’s defensive team was missing key players like William Saliba and Riccardo Calafiori due to a ban and a knee injury respectively. As a solution, Arteta decided to assign Partey to the right-back position, shifted White to play as right centre-half, and authorised Timber to fill the left-back position after passing a fitness test at the last minute.
In the 54th minute, further complications were added when Gabriel had to be replaced due to a knee-related injury. His replacement was Jakub Kiwior, who joined White in the middle. It raised the question of whether Arteta had any players left in their usual defensive positions.
Liverpool sensed a potential benefit because of this, leading to growing anxiety among Arsenal’s fans. Slot made the decision to employ Curtis Jones in the No 10 role while enabling Mac Allister to attack. After the first hour, he substituted Dominik Szoboszlai in place of Mac Allister which was a part of a multiple player switch, with Szoboszlai taking over the No 10 spot.
As Liverpool mounted pressure, Arsenal remained resolute with Timber proving his worth till he succumbed to cramps and had to be replaced by Myles Lewis-Skelly, with around 15 minutes still left in the game.
Following the break, Arsenal did their best to hold firm in their own half. Their enduring resilience was tested as Liverpool largely controlled the pitch in the second half, confident that a single moment could claim victory.
Alexander-Arnold, a continuously growing influence in the game, crucially contributed to the second equaliser, a perfect pass to Núñez through the right side of the pitch. Salah orchestrated a strategic move from the flanks and the resulting cross from Núñez signalled the inevitable outcome. – Guardian