Liverpool peg back Arsenal with a late Martin Skrtel equalizer to deny Arsenal grabbing three points from Anfield in a cagey game which saw two sides looking to improve on their poor starts to the season.
The first half saw Liverpool control the game as they dominated possession, however didn’t create too many clear cut chances as they couldn’t break down the Arsenal defence.
Liverpool’s persistence paid off late in the half as Arsenal’s resistance was broken, Phillipe Coutinho finding the back of the net in the 45th minute. However, Arsenal equalized just a minute later, Mathieu Debuchy getting his first goal in Arsenal colours after Liverpool failed to clear an Arsenal free kick. An undeserved equalizer, however an important once as Arsenal looked to bounce back from an extremely poor first half performance.
Liverpool continued to dominate as Liverpool had 65% of the possession, an unusually poor viewing of possession stats for Arsenal. Despite Liverpool dominating possession of the ball, Arsenal took the lead in the second half through Olivier Giroud who latched on to a Santi Cazorla cross to put the ball through Brad Jones’ legs.
9 minutes were added on due to a Skrtel head injury and he salvaged a point for Liverpool in the 97th minute as Arsenal yet again failed to defend a lead.
Player ratings
Wojciech Szczesny- 7- Made some crucial saves as Liverpool pushed late on to try and get a point. A crucial save from Markovic’s effort in the first half kept the scores level and an exceptional save kept out Fabio Borini’s header at a time where Arsenal lead the game 2-1.
Calum Chambers- 5- Struggled to contain the Liverpool attack and had a lot of defending to do due to Liverpool’s dominance. His decision making at times was very poor and almost cost Arsenal a couple of goals. He looks much more comfortable at centre back rather than right back.
Mathieu Debuchy- 8- Another fantastic performance from a player being asked. Looked very comfortable adapting to his new position and coped well with the Liverpool pressure. Also managed to score his first Arsenal goal as he headed in the equalizer on the stroke of half time.
Per Mertesacker- 6- Still struggling to find form this season as Arsenal yet again fail to keep a lead. At times he looks as if he is being carried by his team mates as he looks prone to making mistakes and is a shadow of the player who performance so consistently last season.
Kieran Gibbs- 6.5- Coped well at times with large spells of Liverpool pressure. Didn’t manage to get forward as much as he usually likes to due to Liverpool’s dominance in possession, meanwhile defended fairly well for most of the game.
Mathieu Flamini- 6.5- Looked fairly solid in his usual position of sitting in front of the back four. Provided an assist for the first Arsenal goal as he headed the ball back in to the box for Debuchy to score.
Alex Oxlade Chamberlin- 6- Didn’t have much of an influence on the game as he was denied the ability to attack and hurt Liverpool with his direct and quick attacking style. He was substituted late on as it looks as if he pulled up with an injury.
Santi Cazorla- 6.5- Yet again another player who struggled to interpret his influence on the game, however played a good ball to Olivier Giroud for the second goal.
Alexis Sanchez- 6- Probably his most average performance in an Arsenal shirt to date. He didn’t pose much of a threat when Arsenal when forward, although that was rare. Despite struggling when having the ball, he worked extremely hard of the ball as usual.
Danny Welbeck- 6- Continued to press and work hard up front, meanwhile didn’t have many chances in the game to score, if any at all, therefore didn’t stamp his mark on the game today.
Olivier Giroud- 7- Didn’t have much of a presence in the first half, however inserted his dominance and hold up play in the second half as Arsenal tried to get forward more often. Took his chance well to slot the ball through Brad Jones’ legs.
Subs
Francis Coquelin- N/A- Came on as a late substitute for Olivier Giroud to make his second appearance of the season.
Nacho Monreal- N/A- Late substitution for Alexis Sanchez.
Joel Campbell- N/A- Late substitution for Oxlade Chamberlain.
Overall, a disappointing result considering Liverpool’s poor form this season and our inability to string together a run of good results this season. Although Arsenal conceded late, it could be argued that Liverpool deserved at least a point. Arsenal will have to perform much better at home to Queens Park Rangers on Boxing Day in a game which should see Arsenal win comfortably.
