In what was an epic night of attacking football blurred with woeful defending from both sides, Arsenal eventually fell to Liverpool's reserves on penalties. Mesut Ozil starred for the first hour, controlling the tempo, making his team tick before a second capitulation forfeiting a two goal lead saw our hosts take it down the Kop End for a shootout.
Five goals a piece sounds a real game, and indeed it was. However, it wasn't all gravy for both sides, as each delivered notable defensive errors leading directly to goals, culminating in a game of the very best and the very worst.
It didn't take long for Mustafi to do Mustafi things as he blundered a loose cross into his own net inside the first ten minutes before Arsenal got their feet into the game with some neat build up from Mesut Ozil and Ainsley Maitland-Niles saw a Bukayo Saka shot saved from Liverpool's keeper only to fall to the feet of Lucas Torreira who tapped home from close range. The Gunners then took the lead with more good wide play from AMN who crossed the ball at the second attempt creating havoc in the six yard area, allowing Martinelli to pick up the keeper's save and smash it into the roof of the net. Two soon became three as a good press down the Arsenal left saw Ozil intercept a loose pass and neatly feed Saka. He swiftly crossed it to the open Martinelli who slid home his second. Queue the first two-goal lead cushion collapse...
Liverpool fought back as Martinelli got stuck in down the other end and gave away a dubious penalty that the reliable James Milner dispatched. Half time hit at 3-2. Arsenal scored next as another good press from AMN latched onto a slack Milner pass leaving his goalie stranded. Still with work to do, the impressive Ozil picked up the ball on the byline, and where any other player would have shot and probably hit the side net or seen it saved, he cheekily back heeled it to the unmarked AMN who tapped home. Two up again but not for long as former Gunner Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain whacked a rapid half volley from outside the area that flew past Martinez in goal. Divock Origi then got in on the act as he blasted one from the edge of the box after Arsenal's defence allowed him far too much room. Four all and still a good half hour left. Having been pushed further forward following the frustrating withdrawal of Mesut Ozil, Joe Willock picked the ball up on the half way line and drove forward with pace. He carried it well and spanked an absolute rocket into the top corner past the despairing goalkeeper who was left with no chance. Europhia in the Arsenal end but still twenty minutes left. Some slack defensive work from Arsenal allowed a late cross to come in from Liverpool's right where an unmarked Origi swung himself back and connected with a sumptuous side bicycle volley. It bounced past the diving Martinez and left it at five a piece with the final whilst all but blown.
The shootout saw one missed penalty, Arsenal's fourth by Dani Ceballos but it was a decent enough penalty that the keeper did well to save. Liverpool buried their five having gone second meaning a five-four win and League Cup progress. Another goal fest between Livepool and Arsenal in the history books.
Ratings
Unai Emery: 5
Emery probably got it right with the starting XI. He set them up well and let Mesut Ozil control and dictate although he still allowed Lucas Torreira to get too far forward, exposing his back line a little too much. However, there's always one thing with Emery and it was his substitutions that let him down this week. Although Willock scored a banger later on, he should have been withdrawn instead of Ozil after 65 minutes, especially that he'd just been carded and Arsenal required a little more control hence the arrival of Guendouzi. Ceballos then followed for Torreira which made absolutely no sense considering the game and the score at the time. KT for Kolasinac later on made a little more sense as we looked to solidify the defence but ultimately that didn't happen anyway.
Emiliano Martinez: 5
Not his best but not his worst either. Could have done a little better for the Origi first goal.
Hector Bellerin: 6
Flying going forward and reliable enough at the back. Still building his way back to full flow.
Shkodran Mutasfi: 4.5
Delivering his usual defensive masterclass, the German took time to get going but never looked solid.
Rob Holding: 5
Not overly good from the great Holdini who looked a yard slow and didn't lead the line well at all.
Sead Kolasinac: 5
A headless chicken on umpteen occasions leaving his defensive line short far too often.
Lucas Torreira: 8
Superb from the Uruguayan all game. Got stuck in, linked up well and netted again.
Joe Willock: 7
Scored a worldy but took some time to find his feet. Played well enough and proved to be reliable.
Bukayo Saka: 6.5
Good from the nippy winger who did the basics right and grabbed a crucial assist.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles: 7
Impressive attacking display from the man who seemingly lacked confidence of late. Good wide play lead to chances a plenty.
Mesut Ozil: 9
Classic Ozil against a strong Liverpool midfield. Controlled, dictated and secondary assisted almost everything.
Gabriel Martinelli: 9
Determined, dogged, composed, motivated and impressive. A great performance from the in form Brazilian.
Subs:
Matteo Guendouzi: 4
Settled in well and took back some control. Caught wanting for Origi's last minute goal though.
Dani Ceballos: 4
Not overly worth the introduction but got stuck in nonetheless. However. he sadly missed the crucial penalty.
Kieran Tierney: N/A
Only a few minutes for KT but he solidified the left hand side immediately.
@craigbennett10
Five goals a piece sounds a real game, and indeed it was. However, it wasn't all gravy for both sides, as each delivered notable defensive errors leading directly to goals, culminating in a game of the very best and the very worst.
It didn't take long for Mustafi to do Mustafi things as he blundered a loose cross into his own net inside the first ten minutes before Arsenal got their feet into the game with some neat build up from Mesut Ozil and Ainsley Maitland-Niles saw a Bukayo Saka shot saved from Liverpool's keeper only to fall to the feet of Lucas Torreira who tapped home from close range. The Gunners then took the lead with more good wide play from AMN who crossed the ball at the second attempt creating havoc in the six yard area, allowing Martinelli to pick up the keeper's save and smash it into the roof of the net. Two soon became three as a good press down the Arsenal left saw Ozil intercept a loose pass and neatly feed Saka. He swiftly crossed it to the open Martinelli who slid home his second. Queue the first two-goal lead cushion collapse...
Liverpool fought back as Martinelli got stuck in down the other end and gave away a dubious penalty that the reliable James Milner dispatched. Half time hit at 3-2. Arsenal scored next as another good press from AMN latched onto a slack Milner pass leaving his goalie stranded. Still with work to do, the impressive Ozil picked up the ball on the byline, and where any other player would have shot and probably hit the side net or seen it saved, he cheekily back heeled it to the unmarked AMN who tapped home. Two up again but not for long as former Gunner Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain whacked a rapid half volley from outside the area that flew past Martinez in goal. Divock Origi then got in on the act as he blasted one from the edge of the box after Arsenal's defence allowed him far too much room. Four all and still a good half hour left. Having been pushed further forward following the frustrating withdrawal of Mesut Ozil, Joe Willock picked the ball up on the half way line and drove forward with pace. He carried it well and spanked an absolute rocket into the top corner past the despairing goalkeeper who was left with no chance. Europhia in the Arsenal end but still twenty minutes left. Some slack defensive work from Arsenal allowed a late cross to come in from Liverpool's right where an unmarked Origi swung himself back and connected with a sumptuous side bicycle volley. It bounced past the diving Martinez and left it at five a piece with the final whilst all but blown.
The shootout saw one missed penalty, Arsenal's fourth by Dani Ceballos but it was a decent enough penalty that the keeper did well to save. Liverpool buried their five having gone second meaning a five-four win and League Cup progress. Another goal fest between Livepool and Arsenal in the history books.
Ratings
Unai Emery: 5
Emery probably got it right with the starting XI. He set them up well and let Mesut Ozil control and dictate although he still allowed Lucas Torreira to get too far forward, exposing his back line a little too much. However, there's always one thing with Emery and it was his substitutions that let him down this week. Although Willock scored a banger later on, he should have been withdrawn instead of Ozil after 65 minutes, especially that he'd just been carded and Arsenal required a little more control hence the arrival of Guendouzi. Ceballos then followed for Torreira which made absolutely no sense considering the game and the score at the time. KT for Kolasinac later on made a little more sense as we looked to solidify the defence but ultimately that didn't happen anyway.
Emiliano Martinez: 5
Not his best but not his worst either. Could have done a little better for the Origi first goal.
Hector Bellerin: 6
Flying going forward and reliable enough at the back. Still building his way back to full flow.
Shkodran Mutasfi: 4.5
Delivering his usual defensive masterclass, the German took time to get going but never looked solid.
Rob Holding: 5
Not overly good from the great Holdini who looked a yard slow and didn't lead the line well at all.
Sead Kolasinac: 5
A headless chicken on umpteen occasions leaving his defensive line short far too often.
Lucas Torreira: 8
Superb from the Uruguayan all game. Got stuck in, linked up well and netted again.
Joe Willock: 7
Scored a worldy but took some time to find his feet. Played well enough and proved to be reliable.
Bukayo Saka: 6.5
Good from the nippy winger who did the basics right and grabbed a crucial assist.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles: 7
Impressive attacking display from the man who seemingly lacked confidence of late. Good wide play lead to chances a plenty.
Mesut Ozil: 9
Classic Ozil against a strong Liverpool midfield. Controlled, dictated and secondary assisted almost everything.
Gabriel Martinelli: 9
Determined, dogged, composed, motivated and impressive. A great performance from the in form Brazilian.
Subs:
Matteo Guendouzi: 4
Settled in well and took back some control. Caught wanting for Origi's last minute goal though.
Dani Ceballos: 4
Not overly worth the introduction but got stuck in nonetheless. However. he sadly missed the crucial penalty.
Kieran Tierney: N/A
Only a few minutes for KT but he solidified the left hand side immediately.
@craigbennett10
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