Arne Slot singles out ‘outstanding’ Arsenal star after Liverpool draw
Arne Slot hailed Bukayo Saka’s ‘outstanding’ performance in Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool on Sunday.
Saka scored Arsenal’s opening goal at the Emirates Stadium as he controlled an excellent long-range pass from Ben White before twisting Andy Robertson and firing past Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher.
Virgil van Dijk pulled Liverpool level in the first half but Arsenal were back in front by the break through Mikel Merino.
Liverpool showed signs of improvement in the second half and scored an equaliser through Mohamed Salah to earn a point at the Emirates Stadium.
Speaking after the game, Slot praised Arsenal’s ability to constantly ‘surprise’ opponents with different systems and admits Liverpool struggled to cope with Saka.
‘I think the second half our intensity was from another level, but the first half was very difficult for us,’ Slot told NBC Sports.
‘Can they surprise you? Actually, they can because they can play in so many different formations, set-ups that you always have to wonder what they’ll come up with.
‘Now they played with a false No.9 with their midfielders really wide, so I didn’t feel we had complete control in the first half.
‘I was really pleased with us scoring a set-piece over here, the downside to that was us conceding one but I think Arsenal deserved to be 2-1 up at half time.’
When it was suggested that both Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold were forced back in the first half due to Arsenal’s wingers, Slot replied: ‘Yeah, the first goal was an example of this where you saw the quality of Saka.
‘Maybe we had to do better but sometimes you have to give credit to these special wingers who are playing these games and I think Saka, especially in the first half, played an outstanding game.
‘Then to be 2-1 down, although I didn’t think they so many other opportunities but they were by far the better team in the first half.
‘Then, I wouldn’t say it surprised me because I know these players, but with one day less to recover than Arsenal having played an away leg [in the Champions League on Wednesday], and to show up the second half in the way we did, with the intensity we played with, that was very pleasing to see.’
