The
dreaded Anfield trip for the season (barring any cup draws) is done and dusted. It’s
another 3 goals and 3 points to Liverpool, which was probably to be expected,
but unlike in recent history we can come away feeling as though there are
positives to be taken and that not all is lost.
For the opening 40 minutes of the first half, Arsenal competed well with Liverpool. Sure we were on the back foot for much of the half, but Liverpool’s full backs were struggling to find their men, there weren’t any real clear cut Liverpool chances to note, and we had our opportunities that on another day or against another opponent we might have taken. So far, so very good.
After 40 minutes though, Matip rose highest to head Liverpool ahead from a corner. You could question why it was allowed to stand after Van Dijk rugby tackled Guendouzi giving him no opportunity to challenge for the header, unfortunately Sokratis had hold of Van Dijk’s shirt which may not have helped the cause.
The beginning of the second half carried on from the end of the first, rather chaotic with an almost complete loss of shape. The previously excellent Luiz gave away a soft but silly penalty tugging on Salah’s shoulder as he went chasing a through ball into our box, before being turned far too easily (Not helped by the fact he was on a yellow card thanks to the penalty incident) and Salah was able to race through on goal before slotting home Liverpool’s third. Arsenal did pull back a goal back through Torreira which on the balance of the whole game was deserved, but ultimately it was too little too late and Liverpool had already got the job done.
All in all, Liverpool were just too strong for us but not helped by 2 costly individual errors courtesy of Luiz. We might not have been at our absolute best either but there are definitely some positives to be taken; this certainly wasn’t the drubbing of last and recent seasons. Bring on the NLD!!
Ratings
Emery - 7
This was probably the toughest rating to award for the whole squad. However we set up tactically, it was hard to envisage us coming away with a win before the game realistically, so we had to give a performance that might help us get some sort of result and the first 40 minutes, it worked very well; neither of the 3 goals were the result of the tactical system and we were a threat. There were faults with substitutions however, they came far too late for them to seriously impact the game and overturn the result.
Leno – 6
AMN – 5
Sokratis – 6
Luiz – 4.5
Monreal – 5
Xhaka – 6
Guendouzi – 6.5
Willock – 6.5
Ceballos – 5
Pepe – 7 (MOTM)
Auba – 5
Torreira – 6
Lacazette – N/A
Mkhitaryan – N/A
@groningergooner
For the opening 40 minutes of the first half, Arsenal competed well with Liverpool. Sure we were on the back foot for much of the half, but Liverpool’s full backs were struggling to find their men, there weren’t any real clear cut Liverpool chances to note, and we had our opportunities that on another day or against another opponent we might have taken. So far, so very good.
After 40 minutes though, Matip rose highest to head Liverpool ahead from a corner. You could question why it was allowed to stand after Van Dijk rugby tackled Guendouzi giving him no opportunity to challenge for the header, unfortunately Sokratis had hold of Van Dijk’s shirt which may not have helped the cause.
The beginning of the second half carried on from the end of the first, rather chaotic with an almost complete loss of shape. The previously excellent Luiz gave away a soft but silly penalty tugging on Salah’s shoulder as he went chasing a through ball into our box, before being turned far too easily (Not helped by the fact he was on a yellow card thanks to the penalty incident) and Salah was able to race through on goal before slotting home Liverpool’s third. Arsenal did pull back a goal back through Torreira which on the balance of the whole game was deserved, but ultimately it was too little too late and Liverpool had already got the job done.
All in all, Liverpool were just too strong for us but not helped by 2 costly individual errors courtesy of Luiz. We might not have been at our absolute best either but there are definitely some positives to be taken; this certainly wasn’t the drubbing of last and recent seasons. Bring on the NLD!!
Ratings
Emery - 7
This was probably the toughest rating to award for the whole squad. However we set up tactically, it was hard to envisage us coming away with a win before the game realistically, so we had to give a performance that might help us get some sort of result and the first 40 minutes, it worked very well; neither of the 3 goals were the result of the tactical system and we were a threat. There were faults with substitutions however, they came far too late for them to seriously impact the game and overturn the result.
Leno – 6
AMN – 5
Sokratis – 6
Luiz – 4.5
Monreal – 5
Xhaka – 6
Guendouzi – 6.5
Willock – 6.5
Ceballos – 5
Pepe – 7 (MOTM)
Auba – 5
Torreira – 6
Lacazette – N/A
Mkhitaryan – N/A
@groningergooner
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