We were twice pegged back and had to settle for a point from a pulsating clash with Liverpool at Emirates Stadium.
Bukayo Saka – back from injury – lashed home our opener before Virgil van Dijk headed the visitors level. A bullet header from Mikel Merino – his first for the club – put us back in front before the interval.
But Liverpool took advantage of injuries to our back line in the second half to draw level when Mohamed Salah scored on the counter attack.
Our defence – already without the services of the suspended William Saliba – then had to adapt to injuries to Gabriel and Jurrien Timber, but we held on for a point.
Saka’s half century
After a poignant rendition of the Last Post to mark the forthcoming Remembrance Day, this eagerly anticipated Premier League clash kicked off in a crackling Emirates Stadium atmosphere.
And the decibel levels were boosted inside the opening ten minutes. Ben White, shuffled along to centre back in place of the suspended Saliba, was given time on the ball inside his own half and sprayed a wonderful pass to the scampering Saka on the right wing. He raced into the area, chopped the ball onto his left foot, completely deceiving Andy Robertson, and smashed the ball home inside the near post.
What a way to mark his return to the starting XI after missing our last two games, and it was also our right winger’s 50th Premier League goal. He’s the 11th Arsenal player to reach the landmark in the Premier League, and the seventh youngest for any club.
Liverpool level
But the lead was soon wiped out. Virgil van Dijk stole in at a corner, and headed in from close range after it was flicked on at the near post by Luis Diaz.
We looked to bounce back with Saka and Gabriel Martinelli full of running on the wings. Merino threw himself at a whipped in Declan Rice free-kick, but couldn’t keep his attempt on target. Saka then shot over from 20 yards following a driving run.
Martinelli beat Trent Alexander-Arnold inside the area to send in a teasing cross, Kai Havertz though, couldn’t sort his feet out in time at the far post.
Merino magic
Havertz then shot over from a better position, while Martinelli was appealing for a penalty after a clumsy challenge on him in the area. VAR checked it, but were happy with the referee’s original non-decision. Martinelli then shot over as we continued to look dangerous going forward.
A second goal seemed to be on the cards, and Merino duly supplied it right at the end of the half.
Rice had been on the money with his set-piece delivery throughout the opening 45 minutes, and his inviting free kick from the right was powerfully met by our Spanish midfielder, who could celebrate his first Gunners goal after a long VAR review for a possible offside.
Defensive reshuffle
Early in the second half Gabriel had to be withdrawn, holding his knee, to be replaced by Jakub Kiwior, and our back four certainly had an unfamiliar look for the final 35 minutes or so.
The change led to a shift in momentum, with Liverpool beginning to look increasingly dangerous.
Diaz burst into the box to be stopped by Raya before Gravenberch blazed over as we came under pressure.
Jurrien Timber was the next of our defenders forced off, he was replaced at left back by Myles Lewis-Skelly.
As we entered the final ten minutes, the pressure told. Darwin Nunez was away down the right, he cut the ball back for Salah in the middle to finish. It was our only defensive slip of the second half.
Our two wingers were replaced for the final ten minutes, having given everything on the pitch, with Ethan Nwaneri and Gabriel Jesus coming on.
As the game entered added time, Jesus bundled the ball home, but the whistle had already gone for an apparent foul by Kiwior in the build up.
So we had to settle for a point, keeping us in third place in the table.
STATS AND FACTS
- We remain unbeaten in five Premier League meetings with Liverpool (W2 D3); our longest run without defeat against the Reds in the competition since October 2007 – April 2011 (eight games).
- We have scored 27 goals from set pieces in the Premier League since the start of last season (excluding penalties); the most of any team in this period. Our 21 headed goals are also the most of any side in the competition since the start of last term.
- Since the start of the 2022/23 season, we have scored four goals in the opening 10 minutes of Premier League games against Liverpool (Gabriel Martinelli x2, Gabriel and Bukayo Saka) – the most one side have netted against another in this period.
- Bukayo Saka has been directly involved in 10 goals in eight appearances in the Premier League this season (3 goals, 7 assists); the fewest games by an Arsenal player to reach 10+ in a single campaign since Cesc Fabregas in 2009/10 (6 games).
What’s next
Our next four games are all away from home. We switch attentions to the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night, when we travel to face Championship side Preston North End in the fourth round. We return to Premier League action on Saturday, away to Newcastle United. That’s followed by trips to Inter Milan and Chelsea before the next round of internationals.
