3 takeaways from Arsenal’s 2-2 draw against Liverpool

Arsenal, along with the entirety of the footballing world, struggle at Anfield. Despite the very real intimidation of the famed stadium Arsenal fans were confident in the team’s ability to capture three points.

The Gunners almost capitalised on their early dominance but were fiercely challenged by Liverpool. The final score was 2-2 which in the end represents the game.

Here are three takeaways from the Premier League classic on Merseyside.

3 takeaways from Arsenal’s 2-2 draw against Liverpool

1. Granit Xhaka woke Anfield up

Last season, Arsenal came to Anfield amid a ten-game unbeaten run.

Mikel Arteta’s young guns were holding their own against the dominant Reds in the opening half an hour before the two managers came to blows after an uncalled foul on Takehiro Tomiyasu by Sadio Mane.

After this clash, the rather dormant Anfield came alive. This time, a Xhaka moment of retaliation did the same. The Swiss international and Trent Alexander-Arnold had a squabble which seemed not only to get the fans engaged, but the rest of the squad as well. Arsenal were dominating their opponents, but this event changed the momentum of the game.

This is not an attempt to blame Xhaka for the draw, but rather a compliment to Anfield’s animated atmosphere. Liverpool resembled their previous selves and sent wave after wave of attack that eventually broke down Arsenal’s solid defence before half-time.

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2. Two familiar thorns

This duo has an uncanny ability to raise their games against Arsenal.

Coming into the fixture, Diogo Jota would have been on the minds of Gooners despite his lengthy goal drought. He scored at Anfield and the Emirates last season and always seems to perform his best when this matchup approaches. Not only did the former Wolves player set up the first goal with a low cross that ricocheted off Henderson into the path of the clinical Salah, but he also won them a penalty – that was missed.

Firmino, despite playing a diminished role during the season, came on once again to haunt the Gunners. Before kick-off, the Brazilian striker had ten goals against Arsenal, the second most of any Liverpool player ever behind Robbie Fowler.

His contribution came late in the game; Trent made a skilful move down the right wing to beat Oleksandr Zinchenko and then lofted a ball into the box that was headed home by Firmino. These two players are the definition of competitive high-impact players and stopped Arsenal from exacting revenge.

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3. Ramsdale may have saved the title

Although Ramsdale didn’t save the penalty – Salah struck it wide of the post – he certainly saved Arsenal’s pursuit of the title.

The Gunners goalkeeper may have had the best game of his career. Ramsdale has pulled off a whole host of remarkable saves since joining the club, but none were more important than the two he produced in the dying embers of Sunday’s game.

Although Arsenal fans wanted a victory and were close to realising their wish, Liverpool controlled the game for most of the second half. Salah almost scored a left-footed curler that was deflected and somehow pushed wide by an outstretched Ramsalde. Shortly after, Ibrahima Konate’s close-range attempt was shovelled off the goal line by Arsenal’s number one which not only preserved a point, but almost resulted in an Arsenal winner at the other end.

The Englishman had an outstanding game that will be remembered for years to come if the Gunners win the title.

This 2-2 draw between Liverpool and Arsenal will be remembered as a classic. The game had everything a scouser, a Gooner, and a neutral could ask for. There were goals, crunching tackles, yellow cards, a penalty, and title-defining performances. Liverpool played like proven champions, and Arsenal played like future champions. The race between the Gunners and the Citizens is slightly closer but destiny still remains in Arsenal’s grasp.