Starting team lineups:

Arsenal starting XI: Raya; Partey, White, Gabriel, Timber; Rice, Merino; Martinelli, Trossard, Saka; Havertz.

Liverpool Starting XI: Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Konate, Robertson; Gravenberch, Jones, Mac Allister; Diaz, Nunez, Salah.

Match officials:

Referee: Anthony Taylor . 

Assistants: Gary Beswick, Adam Nunn. Fourth official: Sam Barrott. 

VAR: Michael Salisbury. 

Assistant VAR: Darren Cann.

Premier League

Emirates Stadium

27th October 2024

KO: 4:30 (UK)

Today, we face Liverpool in a clash at the top of the table. With quite a few first team players injured, Arteta will have to rotate his side.

Saka and Timber return to the squad however, Saliba is absent due to his red card which he received in our last Premier League fixture against Bournemouth.

Liverpool have had a very strong start to the season under Arne Slot. With only one loss and seven wins Slot will be looking to continue their good form.

As we kicked off, Diaz ran at Partey and was supported by Robertson who was fouled by Saka. The ball was crossed in from the freekick and flicked on by Van Dijk however, Rice was able to clear. 

A few minutes later, Kai Havertz and Van Dijk hd a tussle off the ball as the German had a couple of pushesat the defender.

Van Dijk responded with a little kick out of his own to send the Arsenal man into a heap on the ground. No card was given but a dangerous free kick on the right which came to nothing after a poor cross. Salah then nearly slipped Diaz through however, Ben White was there to intercept. We then broke the deadlock as 

Ben White played a great ball in behind for Saka to chase with Robertson contesting him. Saka got into the area and cut the ball back through Robertson’s legs and fired home past Kelleher. 

Salah then had his own chance as Merino let the ball slip through his foot through to Salah whose effort went wide. Moments later, Liverpool equalised through Van Dijk. A corner was swung in and flicked on by Diaz to Van Dijk who was there to head home. 

Arsenal fans were then furious as Diaz wasn’t booked for kicking the ball away. We then nearly scored as Merino was unmarked and misjudged the ball in forcing him to hit wide as he fell holding his shoulder. Martinelli had his first test against Trent as he beat him and fizzed the ball in to Saka who couldn’t connect. 

Minutes later, we then had a penalty shoot as Konate and Trent appeared to sandwich Martinelli however, Anthony Taylor waved away any claims. Mac Allister was then shown a yellow for bringing down Saka. Some nice play from Timber and Merino then forced the ball out to Martinelli who blazed over. 

We had the majority of the ball limiting Liverpool as Trossard’s cross was cleared. We then won a freekick in Liverpool’s half which was whipped in beautifully by Rice and headed in by Merino. VAR checked for offside however, the goal was given. 4 minutes were then added as Liverpool had the last chance of the half with Mac Allister’s header being saved by Raya.

Half time views:

A very dominant first half with us limiting Liverpool to many chances. Arteta will be pleased with how we’ve dealt with the pace of the Liverpool wingers. 

We still need to find Saka more to create more chances as it seems that every time we stack with Martinelli, he runs into trouble.

Seconds into the second half, someone on the Liverpool bench was shown a yellow after Gabriel went down easily with a challenge from Nunez. Gabriel looked to be hurt however, carried on. A minute later, Gabriel went down again and had to be replaced by Kiwior. 

Salah then turned past Timber and crossed into the box however, Diaz wasn’t there to meet the ball. Liverpool then won a corner after Trent’s cross was blocked. Robertson crossed in but failed to beat the first man. Slot then made a triple change as Tsimikas, Gakpo and Szoboszlai replaced Robertson, Diaz and Mac Allister. 

Raya then picked up a booking for time wasting. Nunez then smashed a great volley over the top for Salah down the right.He flicked in a cross in which Raya got a touch to but only pushed it into the middle of the area. It wouldn’t sit for Jones who had to wait on it coming down before seeing his shot blocked by Partey. Timber then went down holding his toes. 

He managed to get up and continue however, went down again as he was replaced by Lewis-Skelly. Trent then tried a chipped ball towards Salah which went wayward. Moments later, Trent played a sublime ball through to Nunez who squared to Salah who tapped home to equalise. After the goal, Arteta replaced Saka and Martinelli with Jesus and Nwaneri. 

We then had a chance of our own as Havertz dunked the ball to the back post to Jesus whose shot was blocked and out for a corner. The resulting corner came to nothing. We then appeared to have scored however, Anthony Taylor had blown up for a foul by Kiwior as he didn’t let play continue. For me, it wasn’t a foul and he shouldn’t have blown his whistle. 

Seven minutes were then added as Endo replaced Jones. Minutes later, Nunez was then booked for tripping up Trossard. We then looked to have a corner in the dying embers of the game however, the officials gave a goal kick to Liverpool and then the full time whistle was blown.

Full time views:

A fair result with us being the better team in the first half and Liverpool having the better of the ball in the second.

One of our worries will be the absence of our senior defenders with Gabriel and Timber both coming off injured.

One point to also make is the decision by the officials for not booking Van Dijk and blowing up when Havertz was through on goal. I guess it almost is always inevitable when Anthony Taylor is the referee.

Anyhow onwards and upwards as we look to face Preston away on Wednesday in the EFL cup.

COYG

Hudson