Kevin Whitcher
How significant Liverpool’s late equalizer at Anfield last night will prove may not be determined until the end of the season, but in spite of a draw being a creditable result, it felt like two points dropped when Joe Allen’s equalizer passed Petr Cech. A little before the free kick that led to the goal, Olivier Giroud, as the ball came out of Arsenal’s defence, worked hard to close down space and force a Liverpool pass. It went to a free man, and Giroud gesticulated to Aaron Ramsey who had failed to advance on the player who received possession. Arsenal were hanging back too deep and the Welshman seemed to lack the energy to make the required yards in time to make life difficult for the home side.
Jurgen Klopp’s own side had been pressing hard in an intense first half, and ran out of steam themselves as the match wore on, but the Gunners, once 3-2 up, failed to take advantage of the greater amount of space on the pitch and make the game more secure by means of a fourth goal.
Giroud was indefatigable, Arsenal’s standout player by a distance, scoring two of their goals. One wonders what he will have in the tank for Stoke, never his favourite of trips, on Sunday. Although he did miss a great opportunity at 2-2 in the first half after some wonderful build-up play by Campbell and Bellerin set him up in front of goal, when his second goal did come after the interval, it was brilliantly fashioned and finished. Once again, it was Bellerin and Campbell who combined to provide him with the ball in the area for a far more difficult chance. These two players are beginning to combine wonderfully on the right flank and it is going to prove difficult to drop the Costa Rican once Alexis returns. Theo Walcott, by contrast, had a very quiet game. It was his loss of the ball early in the game that led to Liverpool’s opener.
Credit to Arsenal for coming from behind twice. Ramsey’s goal, set up by Campbell, was a real treat. Technically, with Giroud suffering a head injury, the referee might have stopped play in the build-up, but he allowed Arsenal to contine and the Frenchman was treated as his team-mates were celebrating.
Liverpool’s goals were avoidable as the Gunners were not quite tight enough to prevent the shots that beat Cech. On the first, there is an argument he should have pushed it away from his goal, but at the speed it was going, who knows how easy it was to control. He could do nothing about the second, and in truth, it was just one of those goals where you have to say “what a finish”. Sure someone might have been closer to Firmino, but it all happened very quickly.
The second Arsenal equalizer looked more of an own goal to me as Mignolet seemed to direct it into his own net, but credit to Giroud for at least causing confusion with a touch that did not actually seem to change the path of the ball from Ozil’s corner.
It must have been very frustrating for Jurgen Klopp to see his side work so hard in their ‘gegenpressing’ (or however it is spelt) and yet reach the interval on level terms.
On paper, it seemed a good time to play Liverpool with their injuries to key players, although looking at the Arsenal treatment table, the boot could just as easily have been on the other foot. It is a credit to Wenger’s squad that they have by and large not suffered from the loss of Alexis, Cazorla and Coquelin from their starting eleven, but the fear is whether the players that have been used so heavily will be able to keep going. However, a trip to Anfield is never going to be a formality and the atmosphere was intimidating, and the weather didn’t make it easy, as snow descended in the second half.
Arsene Wenger switched Campbell and Walcott for the Ox and Gibbs in the final 20 minutes, although there is an argument that, if the Gunners were in defensive mode, they might have been better leaving Campbell on. I thought to myself at the time that this 20 minutes might prove critical in Arsenal’s season. The club have often gained key victories at Anfield in seasons when they have won the title (1997-98 does not really count as they lost 4-0 up there days after being crowned champions) and it would have undoubtedly strengthened their cause if they had held on to their lead.
Speaking with a friend earlier in the day, they stated that four points out of the trips to Liverpool and Stoke would be a good return. Certainly Manchester City’s home draw with Everton was good news that softened the blow of Liverpool’s late leveler, but Leicester don’t seem to be going away. The idea that after gaining 40 points, the Foxes might start to slide down the table is going to have to wait a while yet.
It is not the first time that Arsenal have suffered late goals against in this fixture. However, it is something they will have to avoid in similar matches to come if they are to end their 12 year domestic title drought, because there are going to be a few one goal victories required between now and May. A result that might feel like two points lost, but I suspect at kick off, some would have been happy if you offered them a point. The nature of the draw, from a leading position, is what hurts.
My own mind goes back to 2002-03, a season when Arsenal should have won the title. From winning positions at Liverpool, Newcastle, Bolton and Villa in the second half of the season, Wenger’s team construed to drop eight points. Hanging onto narrow leads is not one of the modern day Arsenal’s strengths. In the end, a fair result though. It might prove a valuable point. We’ll see…
I am now on Twitter@KevinWhitcher01.
The current issue of The Gooner can be bought at the away match v Stoke on Sunday. It includes a free 2016 pullout calendar. The theme, with next year marking the 10th anniversary of the stadium move, is “10 Years at the Grove” and features a notable match from the last decade for every month. The issue can also be bought online here. There will be a new issue on sale at the home match v Chelsea on 24th January.
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