Arsenal and Liverpool drew 0-0 at the Emirates on Monday, and in this PL Review Scott Stewart examines five major talking points from the match.
Goalkeepers Impress
Petr Cech and Simon Mignolet put on an absolute show, with the former making a number of world class saves to deny Liverpool a winning goal.
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In the first half, it was Cech who impressed the most, beating away Benteke’s close range effort and getting the slightest of touches on Coutinho’s beautiful curler to send it off the post and away from goal. The second half was all Mignolet, who produced a couple of excellent saves and most notably, one from Olivier Giroud that was destined for the back of the net had the Belgian not gotten a solid palm to it.
Mignolet isn’t regarded as highly as Cech is (for good reason), but both put an magnificent displays that kept a 0-0 game from potentially reaching 3-3 or higher.
Team-dominated halves
One of the most interesting aspects of the game was how dominant both sides were in completely different halves.
Liverpool controlled the space and pushed the Gunners to the brink in the first 45, as the North London club defended atrociously and consistently gave the ball away, much to the delight of Liverpool fans who made the trip to the Emirates.
However, the second half it seemed almost as if the two sides switched roles – and now it was Liverpool consistently giving the ball away in their own half and Arsenal who were constantly on the attack. Though the score ended 0-0, there were multiple chances for both sides to take the lead and had it not been for some excellent goalkeeping or better finishing, there might have been a winner.
Coutinho still on form
He only scores brilliant goals, Philippe Coutinho.
Whether it was last season’s stunners v. Southampton and City, or this season in the opening weekend v. Stoke, Coutinho has launched some incredible efforts that have found their way in from all kinds of distances and positions.
The Brazilian playmaker was close in the first half, again with a brilliant effort, but it was just touched on by Cech and ricocheted off the post and away from danger for the Gunners. This effort came in the middle of the second half but many forget his chance in the opening minutes of the game that rattled off Cech’s bar and nearly put the visitors in front.
Liverpool fans are expecting big things out of their magician this year, and if early season performances are anything to go by then the club’s supporters can find hope of more consistency and goalscoring throughout the season.
Missing the goal
Christian Benteke, Olivier Giroud, Santi Cazorla, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Philippe Coutinho.
All of the above, and more, had opportunities on goal that were either sent away by the opposition keeper or sent wide of the goal. It’s rare to see a game produce over 30 chances that results in neither team finishing at least one, but that was the tale at the Emirates yesterday after the two teams had experienced such high-scoring affairs in recent meetings.
Top four challenge
It remains to be seen whether Liverpool can keep up the form they’ve displayed in the early parts of the season, as well as whether Arsenal will bounce back from their slow start and curb into a true title challenger, but early indications again point to these two teams vying for the ever-coveted top four resulting in Champions League qualification.
Liverpool have seven points out of three games where Arsenal have just four, but both teams have strengthened immensely over the summer and are now in position to fight for the ultimate prize (besides the PL title, of course…).