From half-time till the 91st minute, Arsenal had zero photographs, no corners and mustered up an anticipated targets tally of 0.0.
For this depleted Liverpool aspect to rock up on the league leaders and restrict them to that’s to Arne Slot’s large credit score.
Had any of the goal-scoring trio of Hugo Ekitike, Mohamed Salah or Alexander Isak been match and within the crew, the Reds most likely would have gone on to take three factors and document their greatest win of the season.
Because it was, they needed to accept a 3rd draw of 2026 – however this time, not like disappointing factors towards Leeds and Fulham, failing to win was actually no shame.
Within the first half, it was a case of sitting in and being affected person, the kind of efficiency you may count on to see within the upcoming weekend’s FA Cup third spherical, a minnow preventing for his or her lives on the residence of a large.
Which will sound like a criticism of Liverpool however it’s truly a praise. Had Slot turned up in north London and never performed barely extra pragmatic than regular (his crew have been deeper, though not at all times by selection), we might have slated him for being naive.
Arne Slot deserves large credit score for the way in which he arrange his Liverpool crew within the draw at Arsenal
But he swallowed some delight and went barely extra defensive to hitch solely Pep Guardiola as the one supervisor to go away the Emirates Stadium with a degree this season. In that recreation, too, Metropolis put in a courageous even when attritional efficiency.
It was not at all times fairly as a defensive-minded Liverpool needed to survive a taxing first half and it was most likely a boring look ahead to some.
Certainly, these watching at residence could have been tempted to show over to The Traitors for some extra drama as Slot was untrue to his all-out assault, whole soccer typical Dutch model.
Conor Bradley hit the bar with an audacious chipped effort that almost foxed David Raya – however that was that for away possibilities.
However after the break, one thing modified.
Liverpool began to get on the ball, Jeremie Frimpong strived to stretch the sport with darts in behind the defence and the away crew began to move with some model.
OK, it was removed from the crew we noticed conquer England final season, although this was a lot better. They have been lacking a little bit of chew and the ultimate, decisive ball – however a draw on the Emirates Stadium is nice in any season, not to mention when they’re up to now forward on the summit.
Slot is man of the matchÂ
Aside from this reporter’s heated gilet, Slot was one of the best performer of the night time.
For coming right here and getting a degree with a depleted squad lacking so many key gamers, the Dutchman deserves mass credit score.
The Reds have been wonderful defensively as they stifled the Gunners and restricted their possibilities
It will not be modern to say so in current weeks as followers have (usually accurately) bemoaned his taking part in model which he defended in a Wednesday press convention when it was put to him that the soccer was ‘uninteresting and boring’.
However the head coach produced a tactically sensible show that noticed them restrict the areas Arsenal had by barely altering his urgent triggers, particularly after the break.
They’ve now proved they’ll put in steely defensive shows. With residence video games towards Barnsley and Burnley to comply with within the subsequent week, now they have to present that they’ll additionally produce attacking performances as that was clearly lacking right here.
Federico Chiesa and Rio Ngumoha could also be given an opportunity to impress towards the League One Tykes on Monday – and possibly they’ll present Slot what he was lacking right here.
Milos matures (after the break)Â
Milos Kerkez has had a troublesome first season at Liverpool, there isn’t any hiding that.
Jamie Carragher described him as ‘like having Darwin Nunez at left again’ and no matter meaning, it was most likely unfair given the teen remains to be settling into a brand new crew.
However the Hungarian improved right here and put in one other stable show towards Arsenal after maintaining Noni Madueke quiet within the first assembly between these sides this season.
Milos Kerkez has struggled this season however put in an improved efficiency on the Emirates
Conor Bradley’s damage means Liverpool ought to look to signal a defender within the switch window
OK, Kerkez had a troublesome time up towards Bukayo Saka within the early exchanges however after about half an hour, he settled and put in some crunching tackles.
It was his attacking output that caught the attention of Liverpool scouts above all, although – and his crosses have been barely wayward at Liverpool. That’s one thing to enhance within the second half of the season…
Will Bradley damage immediate a January purchase?Â
Judging off what was being mentioned at full-time and the very fact Conor Bradley left the stadium on crutches and in a knee brace, it’s truthful to count on a prolonged lay-off (although allow us to hope it’s not as severe because it regarded).
If that’s the case, Liverpool are even lighter in defence, given Giovanni Leoni is out for the season with a cruciate ligament damage suffered on his debut after a summer season transfer from Parma.
Given Frimpong is at the moment taking part in for granted winger (his tempo was an actual weapon right here), Liverpool at the moment have one back-up senior defender in Andy Robertson, from the again 4 that ended this recreation.
Will that immediate a rethink of their plan to take a seat tight and never signal a defender in January? Perhaps it ought to…
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