Arsenal were part of one of the best matches of the season as they took on Liverpool on Sunday. While it was a great game for the neutrals, the league leaders would have been a little disappointed.
Looking back at that epic clash between the two English giants, it becomes clear that it was a point gained for the Gunners. Given how the second half went, it was more of a point gained than two lost. What does Mikel Arteta make of this potentially title deciding weekend?
A Game Of Two Halves
Perhaps the most disappointing facet of this match was how the north Londoners tailed off after a blistering start. To go ahead by two goals at Anfield is not an easy task but this group of players achieved it. Once they had done that, it looked like a formality that the win was going to be secured.
But once the hosts scored just before half time, it felt imminent that they were going to go on the front foot. And once the second half began, it was only a wave of Red attacks till the final whistle. This would have upset Arteta a lot as he knows that the players are capable of more.
If not for the heroics of goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, it could have been a lot worse and the leaders would have left with nothing. Going forward, the players need to realise that they have to maintain the same level of intensity. Given how strong teams are, even a little lack of concentration can prove to be deadly.
That Final Counter
For a brief second towards the end of the match, it looked like the Gunners were about to add another miracle to this season. Once Gabriel won the ball in the penalty box and played it forward, it felt like we were about to witness an ending for the ages. After Leandro Trossard played a wonderful backheel to Gabriel Martinelli, the stage was set.
All that the Brazilian winger had to do was find Bukayo Saka who was in acres of space. But unfortunately, the youngster overhit the pass and Alisson was able to collect it safely. Whether this was down to poor technique or just fatigue, we will never know. And to be fair to Martinelli, it shouldn’t take away anything from someone who got a goal and an assist.
Whether this will prove to be the pivotal moment in the title race remains to be seen but it certainly feels significant. There is still a lot of football to be played and there could be further twists and turns to come.
The Xhaka Incident
Given the benefit of hindsight, a lot of people will point the blame at Granit Xhaka for the tide turning. But this is a wrong way to look at the game and there is proof of this. If you take a look at the incident between Xhaka and Trent Alexander-Arnold, it doesn’t really rile up the crowd at the time.
They were still reeling from the devastating press and efficiency that the north Londoners had been showing till then. All of it changed once Mo Salah scored their first goal as that is when the crowd really caught on fire. That too was quite a lucky goal but it nevertheless charged up the home support.
To pin the blame on Xhaka would be truly unfair as nothing could be done about the goal. He was one of the best players on the pitch and that should be what fans talk about when they discuss the Swiss midfielder. The media and the pundits will talk about him because it is truly a case of reputation preceding a player. That needs to be kept in mind when you look back at this game.
Leeds vs Liverpool
For a lot of fans, the game at Anfield would have reminded them of the one at Elland Road. When Arsenal traveled to Leeds early on in the season, they had a game which looked quite similar to the one that took place at the weekend. The Gunners scored first and looked like they were going to dominate the game.
But from nowhere, Leeds found some zip to their game and started putting the league leaders under immense pressure. And as with Liverpool, a forward from Leeds missed a penalty. The person in question was Patrick Bamford and Salah repeated that on Sunday. That game could have ended in a draw or defeat but due to relatively low technical standards of the Whites, a win was secured.
That game proved to be an important lesson for these players as it showed that there are some vulnerabilities that remain. The hope is that the squad can regroup and consider what went wrong at Anfield. There are a lot of factors that one can talk about but ultimately what matters is the result.
Newcastle United and Manchester City
The other really tough away games the north Londoners have left are the trips to St. James’ Park and the Etihad. While the Premier League challengers have a terrible record at the latter ground, they can be more confident about Newcastle. After all, winning these games is the true hallmark of champions.
Another factor that could play a role is the goal difference and it is one area where City reign supreme. Getting the better of them in this regard is not going to be easy. So, it all boils down to how many points can be collected. And these two games will probably have the biggest effect on how the table looks like at the end of the season.
The Gunners have to show that they have the mentality needed to win the big prize and Arteta would be looking at ways to ensure this. If they approach these games the same way they did in the first 30 minutes at Anfield, a win can be secured. There is no point in worrying about what other teams are doing. Despite the draw against Liverpool, the Emirates side are still very much in the title race despite what others might say.
Conclusion
While it would have been great to get the three points at Anfield, all hope is not lost. The Gunners have shown that they have the resolve needed to be part of a title challenge. When the team travels to West Ham United, the fans will be in full voice again and looking to spur them on. And if you want to do that, check out seatsnet.com for some tickets. The belief that the fans have in this group of players is truly special.
Arsenal have had some bumps in the road this season but they are still at the top even if that position looks a little precarious now. It needs to be remembered that there is a long way to go and anything can happen. City are a juggernaut that will take some stopping but if the north Londoners can show their best for large periods of the game, the title could be heading to London. There are quite a few days left till the next game and that period should be used to examine how to maintain the level of excellence this team is capable of.
