However this was no siege. Mikel Arteta will rightly that it was a efficiency of bravery and intent from his aspect, and that their centre-halves have been excellent. Their followers have been the happiest on the finish and it felt like a really totally different Arsenal efficiency from the draw right here final April.
They didn’t, as Arteta warned in opposition to, fall into the Anfield “washer”. They’re prime at Christmas, some extent forward of Liverpool and Aston Villa, who additionally drew on Friday, and 6 in entrance of Metropolis who’ve dropped out of the highest 4. However Metropolis have a sport in hand. Win that and they’re one win from the highest themselves.
That feels ominous with Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland attributable to return.
However allow us to not do down Liverpool or Arsenal, though within the chilly gentle of day they could surprise if they’ve sufficient innovative at centre-forward. Gabriel Jesus labored arduous however by no means regarded like scoring whereas Cody Gakpo performed unconvincingly by means of the center for Liverpool and Darwin Nunez was ineffective when he got here on.
Possibly that’s churlish after such a fantastic match, however requested what his staff had to enhance on within the second half of the season, Arteta was clear. “Killing video games,” he stated, with Arsenal solely the joint-fifth highest scorers within the league (Liverpool are joint third).
However they’re each completely on this title race. The truth is this felt just like the form of heavyweight conflict we have been spoilt by between Liverpool and Metropolis in recent times and it was a quantum leap ahead for Arsenal from the way in which they have been dominated by Metropolis final season.
They’ve crushed them this marketing campaign, whereas Liverpool drew on the Etihad, so there may be nothing to concern – maybe besides Metropolis’s relentless capability to string collectively a formidable run of victories.
Fairly how Liverpool weren’t awarded a penalty, on this Var age, was unfathomable. They have been 1-0 down when Odegaard appeared to pat the ball beneath his management when tangling with Mohamed Salah. It didn’t even warrant a Var examine.
Arsenal’s aim got here early and was one other set-piece routine – they’re the joint-highest scorers with 11 together with Everton. Gabriel Magalhaes simply discovered house to satisfy Odegaard’s free-kick and headed previous a stranded Alisson Becker. Ibrahima Konate recovered to have a effective sport – it was the 4 centre-halves of him, Virgil Van Dijk, William Saliba and Gabriel who dominated – however was at fault.