Liverpool 2 Arsenal 2 – Weird, Weird Game!

Liverpool 2 (Coutinho 45, Skrtel 90+7′) – Arsenal 2 (Debuchy 45+1′, Giroud 65)

Man of the Match – Philipe Coutinho (Liverpool)

Football is a weird game, isn’t it. About a month back, Arsenal completely outplayed Manchester United, created more chances and attempts and yet ended up losing 2-1. And yesterday, Arsenal were in the backseat as Liverpool kept driving on and on to dominate the Gunners over the course of 90 minutes. Yet, it seemed like Arsenal would go through with 3 points, having played 96 minutes. How it was all to change!

With Laurent Koscielny and Nacho Monreal injured, Arsene Wenger picked up his 4 remaining defenders. Surprisingly, Callum Chambers started at right-back, while Mathieu Debuchy started at centre-back. With injuries mounting in midfield, the manager had no choice but to start Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain alongside Mathieu Flamini, while he persisted with the same attacking quartet of Cazorla, Alexis, Welbeck and Giroud. Liverpool, on the other hand, started with a 3-5-2 (or was it 3-6-1?) formation. Mamadou Sakho, Martin Skrtel and former Arsenal defender Kolo Toure started in defence, Steven Gerrard, Jordan Henderson, Lucas, Philipe Coutinho, Lazar Markovic and Adam Lallana in an overpowering midfield, with Raheem Sterling upfront in the absence of Daniel Sturridge and Mario Balotelli.

There was no doubt as to who was in the ascendancy in the opening exchanges. Liverpool dominated early exchanges, maintained a high tempo, and generally looked hungrier. The trio of Sterling, Lallana and Coutinho were running rings around Arsenal’s defense. The first chance came when Mertesacker fouled the electric Coutinho just outside the box. Steven Gerrard’s free kick went wide. Mathieu Flamini picked up a harsh booking, before a Lallana effort went narrowly wide. He had another go in the 18th minute, which was deflected for a corner.

Arsenal were getting overrun in midfield and were barely able to string passes together. Liverpool had crowded the midfield, and Flamini and Chamberlain found it hard to cope with. Arsenal slowly settled for a 4-4-2, with such less possession, Cazorla and Alexis often having to drop deep. Lazar Markovic, signed from Benfica over the summer, showed signs of sparks as his effort was turned away by the legs of Szczesny after he somehow made it into the Arsenal box through several defenders. Another effort from the left winger went above the post.

The few times Arsenal managed to foray forward, ended up in disappointing corners, which Liverpool were able to easily clear to feed their midfielders and forwards. With half-time approaching, and the Arsenal players looking like they needed a break badly, they conceded. Cazorla, Welbeck and Giroud looked to skilfully get the Gunners out of a muddle, but Giroud gave away possession to Jordan Henderson, who passed it to Coutinho, breathing fire right under Arsenal’s noses. He created space, and unleashed a shot that struck the far post and went inside. It was a lead the Reds thoroughly deserved.

And then, Arsenal struck. Alexis was deemed to have been fouled, though in all honesty there was little contact from the supposed offender Steven Gerrard. The Chilean’s free kick was met by Mertesacker’s head, fell straight to the head of Flamini, who directed it towards a rising Debuchy. The Frenchman directed the ball goalwards with his head, under pressure from Martin Skrtel, and there was little Australian international keeper Brad Jones could do about it. They all count, don’t they.

Arsenal looked marginally better at the start of the second half, with Cazorla having a go. Debuchy then picked up a yellow card for fouling Sterling just outside the penalty box, before the game had to be stopped for 6 minutes after Olivier Giroud accidentally and painfully stamped on Martin Skrtel’s head. The big Slovakian international was patched up and ready to go, before Liverpool began where they had left off. Lucs unleashed an effort before a Steven Gerrard went over.

And then, the unthinkable happened. In a rare foray forward, Arsenal neatly put some passes together. Gibbs crossed to Giroud who fed Cazorla in some space behind Liverpool defenders, and the Spaniard waited for the perfect moment to play it back to the Frenchman, whose effort went through the keeper’s legs to give the Gunners an undeserved lead.

Liverpool responded with some shots, that weren’t of much concern to Szczesny. Lucas and Coutinho both miscued their chances from similar positions, as Arsenal looked to nervously hold on to their lead, much to the anxiousness of the away supporters. Liverpool just weren’t relenting, as Arsenal struggled to even get the ball into the Liverpool half. Brendan Rodgers sent on strikers Rickie Lambert and Italian international Fabio Borini for Lazar Markovic and Kolo Toure, the latter of which went to chants of “Kolo is a Gooner” from the Arsenal faithful.

Arsene Wenger’s response was to send on Messrs Francis Coquelin and Joel Campbell for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Olivier Giroud. Steely. Borini had two quickfire attempts, the first of which was a header, which required Szczesny to jump, and jump hard to tip it over the post, and the second hit the post. He then was sent off with a second yellow card for a high boot on Santi Cazorla, which caused the Spaniard’s shirt to tear. At the nipple.

Szczesny was left alone to keep Arsenal in the game, like a lone soldier, as Liverpool attacked Arsenal’s goal like a bunch of Mongols. Sterling’s effort was kept out with a touch, and a Gerrard long-ranger couldn’t get past the Pole either. And then, the inevitable happened. Having played 96 minutes, and only 3 minutes left to hold out, Martin Skrtel powered in a powerful header which was so powerful it almost broke the net. There was nothing Callum Chambers, who was marking the Slovak could do. It was so powerful, the Big Fucking German had to duck to prevent himself from being hurt.

Arsenal could have incredibly won it too, when Cazorla’s long range effort was kept out by Jones. Monreal just couldn’t get hold of the rebound. While a late equalizer feels like two points dropped, in the overall context of the game, a point seems like a precious point. If this was the same ruthless Liverpool that pummeled Arsenal 5-1 last season, Suarez and all of that, it could have been a different story. Maybe, if, even Daniel Sturridge was fit, it could have been a 2-0 or 3-0, in the least.

None the less, a point is a point. Time to look forward to the QPR game next, on Boxing Day.

Jai Arsenal 🙂

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Liverpool 1-2 Arsenal

Liverpool 1 (Koscielny (O.G) 23) – Arsenal 2 (van Persie 31, 90+2′)

Man of the Match – Wojciech Szczesny (Arsenal)

Captain Vantastic came to Arsenal’s rescue yet again, in an enthralling game at Anfield, as the Gunners stole 3 points from Liverpool, in what can be described as a smash and grab.

With Liverpool on a high after winning the Carling Cup last weekend, and having paraded it around Anfield by Steven Gerrard, before the early kick-off, and Arsenal, too, in good spirits after mauling their fiercest rivals Tottenham Hotspur, last week; everything was in place for an absorbing contest.

Liverpool were dealt a blow when captain Steven Gerrard was ruled out of the clash after sustaining an injury in the meaningless friendly against Holland. Daniel Agger, having been ruled out for 6 weeks with a broken rib, was replaced by Liverpool stalwart Jamie Carragher in the centre of defence.

Arsenal started with the same eleven that had thrashed Spurs last week. van Persie, Vermaelen and Rosicky all were passed fit, despite suffering strains through the week, thanks again to the meaningless friendlies.

Despite the injury problems, it was Liverpool who had the brighter of starts, winning 3 corners in the opening exchanges. Stewart Downing should have given the home side the lead, when Szczesny rushed out of his area, to deny Suarez an opening, but his effort was poor.

Luis Suarez was looking bright and was causing plenty of problems for the Arsenal defence, with his skill. He played a 1-2 with Dirk Kuyt, and went down theatrically on the slightest touch of Szczesny. Charlie Adam was supposed to take the penalty, but signals from Liverpool’s bench suggested Dirk Kuyt to take the spot-kick. His tame penalty was brilliantly saves by Szczesny, and his return shot too was well kept out by the Pole. Justice done.

However, Liverpool were least affected, as they came pouring forward in attack. They got their reward on 22 minutes, when Jordan Henderson’s cross was deflected into the net, rather unfortunately by Laurent Koscielny.

Liverpool could have added to their lead, but Szczesny saved Henderson’s shot, and Suarez was denied by the post. Arsenal got the equalizer, soon, when Bacary Sagna’s perfect cross, was met by Robin van Persie’s head. The Dutchman prodded the ball home after losing his marker Jamie Carragher.

Liverpool were denied again by the post, the 21st time it has happened to them this season, when Dirk Kuyt flicked Charlie Adam’s cross.

Nearly 7 minutes were lost when Jordan Henderson accidentally collided with Mikel Arteta, in an off-the-ball incident. Arteta suffered a heavy concussion, and had to be taken stretchered off the field, and needed oxygen support. He was given a rapturous applause by a crackling crowd at Anfield, and also a pat from Henderson.

It seemed to take the momentum off Liverpool, as Abou Diaby, making his return after a long term injury and the rest of the midfield, passed around with ease. Theo Walcott’s shot between 3 defenders, after a fine cross by Kieran Gibbs, deflected off Martin Skrtel, and bounced off Reina’s leg.

Liverpool responded with attacks off their own, and Kelly missed with the goal wide open, as he miscued a cross. Arsenal threw on Gervinho and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, in place of Yossi Benayoun, who himself got an applause from the faithful of his old team, and Diaby, probably as a precautionary measure.

Surprisingly, Liverpool didn’t make any changes till the 88th minute, despite having the pacy Craig Bellamy, Andy Carroll and Maxi Rodriguez on the bench.

Fatigue probably took its toll on Liverpool, as Arsenal set out to close out the game with one final flurry. Alex Song played a marvellous ball to Robin van Persie, who volleyed home the winner in the 92nd minute, to send the Arsenal end in delirium. It was just like the Everton goal, and it was Song’s 11th assist of the season, and van Persie’s 31st goal of the season.

Andy Carroll was thrown on, but Arsenal kept their calm, and could have made it 3-1, but Chamberlain’s fine shot went just wide off the post.

The final whistle bought with it 3 precious points for Arsenal. Now, they are 10 points ahead of Liverpool, who still have a game in hand, and 3 ahead of Chelsea, who lost to West Brom in the later kick-off, and just 4 behind Sp*rs, who face Manchester United at home tomorrow.

Match Ratings-

Szczesny (9) – Conceded a harsh penalty, but made up for it with a brilliant save. Kept remarkable calm denying Liverpool on several occasions.

Sagna (8.5) – Another fantastic game from the French right-back. Provided a fine assist for the equalizer, and kept Downing under check, for large parts of the game.

Vermaelen (8) – Played through niggling injury problems, and a back injury he sustained during the game. Was massive, winning almost all headers. His performance sums Arsenal spirit.

Koscielny (7.5) – Despite the unfortunate own goal, another fine performance from the French centre-back. Like Vermaelen, he won almost everything that came through the centre, though was baffled by Suarez a couple of times.

Gibbs (7.5) –  A fine game from Gibbs. Neat while coming forward, and composed at the back, keeping good tabs on Kelly and Kuyt

Song (7.5) – Was magnificent today. Won possession often, despite Arsenal failing to build on it, and provided a priceless assist.

Rosicky (7) – Didn’t really build on his Tottenham performance, and lost possession far too often.

Arteta (7.5) – Unable to stamp his authority on the game, as Henderson, Spearing and Adam won the midfield battle.

Benayoun (7) – Again, didn’t build on a fine display against Sp*rs.

Walcott (6.5) – Lacked ideas, and was easily closed down by Liverpool. Another player who didn’t build on from his display last week.

van Persie (8) – Matchwinner. 2 real shots, and 2 goals. Arsenal have to hold on to him, by hook or crook, come the end of the season.

Subs –

Diaby (7.5) – Looked lively when he came on. Would be a valuable player till now and the end of the season.

Gervinho (7) – Shielded the ball well towards the end.

Oxlade-Chamberlain– Came on too late to get a rating, but almost scored Arsenal’s 3rd.

Overall Team Rating – 7.57