Arsenal 0-2 Liverpool: 4 talking points from spirited defeat

Liverpool's Spanish midfielder Thiago Alcantara watches as Liverpool's Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker saves a shot from Arsenal's Norwegian midfielder Martin Odegaard during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium in London on March 16, 2022. - - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images) /

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Arsenal’s Brazilian striker Gabriel Martinelli (R) runs around Liverpool’s English defender Trent Alexander-Arnold during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Liverpool. (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images) /

2. Gabriel Martinelli Terrorizes Trent Alexander-Arnold

Like Partey, the Brazilian is becoming increasingly effective in big games. Often isolated with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Martinelli gave the Englishman fits all night.

While there are not many forwards who like playing against the Liverpool No. 66, Martinelli looks like he wanted to play against him every week. Some of his control and first touches were divine; he could stop a bullet dead.

His movement, willingness to run and tenacious appetite for the physical contest left Alexander-Arnold clutching at straws. Such was Martinelli’s dominance over the England full-back that Jurgen Klopp often had to double and triple team the young winger to curb his influence.

He went agonizingly close to getting Arsenal back into the game late on but fired just wide. On his current form, the 20-year-old is nearly unplayable and one of the best teams on the planet could not deal with him. If given the chance Klopp would take him back in the Liverpool team bus.

Pace, trickery, physicality, and mental toughness, Martinelli has it all as he tormented Liverpool tonight.

This young man can be whatever he puts his mind to.

Continued on next page…

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