The visit to Anfield confirmed a couple of known facts. Arsenal play too narrow when attacking and are not good enough coping with opposition set pieces to win the title. The former is something that they can get away with, as pressure tends to wear down their opponents in the end. However, the latter can only really be addressed in the transfer market and there are under three weeks to do it.

Arsenal dominated possession in the first half but did very little with it. Liverpool were happy to soak it up and try and hit N’Gog on the break. Fortunately, the offside line is one thing that the defence do seem to work on as it did its job on several occasions. If only they were as organised at corners and free kicks from wide. If a commanding keeper and an experienced vocal organiser at centre-back are bought, it could transform the team. There are certainly a few players that need yelling at in the Arsenal side. Andrey Arshavin is one, his lack of concentration leading to Liverpool’s goal. This was after the home side had been reduced to ten men thanks to Joe Cole’s dismissal.

At half-time, you would have expected Arsenal to be firm favourites to take three points, but carelessness at the back cost them dear. I could crucify Almunia for completely missing the ball at a first half corner, but I can forgive him conceding the goal. It was very well struck and would have taken a wonder save to stop it.

Paul Merson was one of the guests for Sky’s coverage of this game and when asked what the common language is at Arsenal, he responded, “I was there a couple of years ago doing something and the players hardly spoke to each other”. I assume he was referring to the publicity shoot for the away kit from 2008/09, and it got me thinking about how easy it is for the players to communicate with one another on the pitch. I suspect, a lot of their play is instinctive, but when they have to think about something – as a team – the difficulty in communicating (and the attendant lack of bonding) probably handicaps their ability to react, and there is an element of just going through the motions. At times, Wenger’s teams look like a disjointed bunch of individuals, and I am sure this is one of the reasons the captain seeks a move to a club where there does seem to be a strong bond among the players.

It certainly doesn’t make for a convincing unit. If things are going well, then it all looks hunky dory, but when the tide turns, the team have – in the past – folded too easily. You can carry a couple of players who are not up to speed on the language, but you have to wonder – as Merson was asked – exactly what the common language is. I’d suggest it’s French. When you realise that the captain, the keeper and the main striker do not understand a word of it, then you have problems.

After all Arsenal’s woes with goalkeepers, it was ironic that Pepe Reina should gift the visitors a draw on the stroke of injury time. I remember the keeper making a couple of howlers in his early days at Liverpool, but he has become far less of a liability over the course of time. It does appear as if Mark Schwarzer will be arriving, but I’d prefer Wenger to spend a little more to secure Shay Given, who will give him at least four seasons. As for the centre back signing, the red card awarded to Laurent Koscielny means Alex Song will probably be asked to play at the back against Blackpool, and with only three centre-backs at the club (I do not think the manager is going to seriously consider Nordtveit), this could be seen on a frequent basis unless someone is signed.

Tactically, Arsenal played two holding midfielders – Diaby and Wilshere – in Song’s absence, and you imagine Diaby and Song will become the manager’s first choice pairing there, although the centre-back problem means that won’t happen until the Blackburn game. Diaby did a decent job of cancelling out Joe Cole in the first half, so credit to him for that. It was ironic that Cole should be the focus of the game, given that he would have been lining up for Arsenal were it not for his failing a medical after the World Cup.

I am not convinced Arsenal deserved the point. Although they had far more of the ball, they did so little with it, even with a man advantage. However, I’d have settled for it before the game, so let’s hope it’s onwards and upwards – not least in the transfer market.

PS – Since posting this, regular contributor Brian Dawes has been in touch to tell me that Cesc Fabregas probably does speak French, as he was taking French classes back in 2007 when this interview was posted by FourFourTwo. I stand humbly corrected. The interview – incidentally – is well worth a read. Cesc makes some very telling comments which I suspect he would not be able to say today in his role as captain. And for me, a lot of what he says is still very relevant, especially his answer to the question ‘Are Arsenal too nice?’.