Arsenal Vs Liverpool: Highlights and analysis – Breathtaking draw

Arsenal hosted Liverpool on Friday night as the Premier League rumbled on. Here is the full recap, all the highlights and analysis from the 3-3 draw.

Arsenal battled their way to a 3-3 draw with Liverpool in one of the most exciting, enthralling games of the season. Arsene Wenger’s side were outplayed for large periods of the game. But thanks to a blistering five-minute period midway through the second half, they come away a share of the spoils. This could have been far worse. In the end, it was thoroughly enjoyable.

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The first half started in a very even fashion. Both teams were feeling out the opposition, Alexis Sanchez looked committed to the cause, while both Saido Mane and Mohamed Salah threatened at the other end. Perhaps the only thing of note from the opening 15 minutes was an injury to Jordan Henderson, with James Milner coming on in his stead.  Andy Robertson was pushing Alex Iwobi back, getting in behind the Nigerian on a couple of occasions. But, for the most part, both teams were fairly comfortable.

However, as the game progressed, Liverpool’s control began to grow. Their greater quality in possession, especially considering the looseness of the Gunners’, showed, and they continued to command the midfield areas of the pitch. That control, couple with their searing pace, paid dividends.

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Mohamed Salah was released down the right channel, with Ainsley Maitland-Niles caught too central, which isn’t all that surprising given that he is a natural central midfielder, and in a one-on-one situation with Laurent Koscielny, his deflected cross lopped up perfectly for Philippe Coutinho, who deftly directed his header up and over the stranded Petr Cech. 1-0 to Liverpool. On the balance of play at half-time, it was just what they deserved.

Further chances cames to Salah after Koscielny maddeningly chose to slide to intercept a pass, failing to get the necessary purchase on the ball. Thankfully, the Egyptian wasted the one-on-one opportunity, his shot straight at the chest of Cech. Saido Mane then acrobatically volleyed over the rebound. Would Liverpool live to rue their missed chances? Salah then failed to connect with a cutback, while crosses from wide areas continued to cause problems.

At the other end, Arsenal’s play was littered with mistakes. Misplaced passed, poor first touches, a lack of quality when the game was tight. This was an extremely poor performance from the Gunners, especially given their dependence on their play in possession. They were lucky to be one-goal down at the break, which is somewhat depressing to write.

After halftime, the game burst into life. First, Liverpool scored: Arsenal lose the ball, Mohamed Salah breaks down the right flank, plays a one-two with Robert Firmino, and as Arsenal were dragged towards the ball, Salah slipped in behind, set himself with the Gunners scampering back, bends a shot into the far corner with the help of a deflection. It was at this point that mania began to rain.

40 second later, Hector Bellerin drifts a cross towards the back post, Joe Gomez falls asleep and Alexis Sanchez steals inside to power home the header. Life? Maybe, just maybe. Two minutes later, those flickers of life suddenly became flourishing shoots. Granit Xhaka, as he has done, somewhat frustratingly, all year long, tries his luck from distance. Swerving, dipping and diving, the shot flies past Simon Mignolet who tried to parry it clear with just one hand. It was shocking goalkeeping and it only spurred Arsenal on.

That spurring on led to the key piece of quality of the Arsenal attack. Mesut Ozil picks up the ball in the pocket of space between the defence and the midfield. He drives forward, plays a lovely one-two with Alexandre Lacazette, who backs into Dejan Lovren and backheels the ball back into the path of the German who cutely chips his shot over the onrushing Simon Mignolet.

But the game did not end there. Liverpool kept pushing for the equaliser, and thanks to Petr Cech’s weak wrists, they got it. Mohamed Salah spins away from Alexis Sanchez, plays a pass into Emre Can, who is afforded far too much space on the edge of the area. He then picks out Roberto Firmino who takes a touch, shoots at goal and sees his effort bundle into the goal as Cech fails to get a strong enough hand to it.

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In the closing stages, the game petered out a little, with the substitutes slowing the tempo somewhat. The Gunners can count themselves fortunate for the draw, but a few moments of quality saw them to the finish line. Just. This was a wonderful, breathless watch. I’m in need of a nap, I think.

Highlights