That could have been a disaster for the Gunners. Arsenal managed to stave off a miraculous Liverpool comeback as they draw 2-2 at Anfield, yet their lead over Man City has fallen to just 5 points.
This is really going to be a close title race over the last eight games of the season.
Even though Arsenal managed to score the opening two goals of the game, the Gunners were lucky to find themselves in a 2-2 draw as they got (mostly) obliterated by a Liverpool side that desperately needed this win. Now, I do have to say that even though Arsenal managed to avoid defeat at Anfield, which is an achievement in its own right, they really should have come away with a victory after the first 25-30 minutes.
The Gunners were explosive in the opening twenty or so minutes as the reintroduction of Gabriel Jesus, who was out for the last three months with a knee injury, provided so much more fluidity and ferocity to their attack. Obviously, Arsenal’s frontline of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martenelli, and Leonardo Trossard are dangerous in their own right as they’ve won the last seven straight Premier League games, but Jesus adds a poacher threat they simply lack without him.
His innate striker instincts were what helped him get behind Virgil Van Dijk, who started this game horribly but improved over time, and head home Arsenal’s second of the game, which probably would have been missed by his replacements if they were in that position. Nonetheless, along with a strike from Gabriel Martinelli earlier in the game, Arsenal had a complete stranglehold with a 2-0 lead and were on the verge of knocking out the Reds.
Seriously, Liverpool was absolutely awful for those opening 25 minutes as the midfield of Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, and Curtis Jones were getting overrun by Thomas Partey, Martin Ødegaard and Granit Xhaka, while the usual suspects on defense (TAA, Virgil Van Dijk) were getting badly drawn out of position.
Just like how Man City destroyed Liverpool 4-1 a few games ago, I thought Liverpool were about to get torn a new one by another title contender once again.
Yet, that’s where this game completely flipped on its head.
Not only was Mo Salah able to get in behind Gabriel to jam in a goal to claw the score back to 2-1 right at the end of the 1st half, but Liverpool was also able to completely overwhelm the Gunners in the 2nd half. Liverpool finished the game with 21 shots, 6 shots on Aaron Ramsdale’s net, 60% possession, 527 passes, and 82% passing accuracy, and 5 corners, while also being able to completely keep out Arsenal’s attack for the entire second half.
It truly was a Dr. Jekyll-Mr. Hyde performance for Liverpool between the two halves as they were utterly useless in the 1st half but were the classic killer Liverpool in the second.
TAA and Andy Robertson, who were pinned within their final third in the beginning of the game, were bombing forward time and again, Virgil Van Dijk took charge of the defense and stuffed the Arsenal attack, the midfield were able to press and force the Gunners into mistakes, and the offense was able to get in behind.
Roberto Firmino was the one who eventually broke the Arsenal resistance in the 88th minute as he headed home a TAA cross into a practically empty net with Aaron Ramsdale in no-man’s land. And, Liverpool really should have won this game in stoppage time as they had two huge chances (Mo Salah’s curling shot, Ibrahaim Konate’s shot saved off the line), but Ramsdale and the Arsenal defense somehow kept them at bay.
This was honestly the best performance I’ve seen from Liverpool since that 7-0 domination over Man United, which really does feel like a lifetime ago now. Even though Liverpool are now winless in four games (2 draws, 2 losses), this draw has given me confidence that Liverpool will be able to sneak into one of the Europa League places.
It’ll be difficult to knock out an extremely in-form Aston Villa (6th; 47 PTS) side, but if anyone can do it, it’s Liverpool (8th place; 44 PTS).
Reversely, the final eight games of Arsenal’s season are going to make or break their title charge…obviously.
With them now only five points ahead of Manchester City having played a game more than the Citizens, Arsenal (1st; 73 PTS) pretty much have to win out against the likes of Newcastle (3rd; 56 PTS), Chelsea (11th; 39 PTS), and, of course, Manchester City (2nd; 67 PTS) to win the title.
Arsenal have passed every test so far, but this will be the defining obstacle of their season. Will they sink or swim?
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