When will Arsenal learn?
The Gunners were 2-0 up and cruising against a struggling Liverpool side when an altercation between Granit Xhaka and Trent Alexander-Arnold came out of nowhere.
Arsenal got off to a dream start at Anfield as goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus put them 2-0 up inside the first 28 minutes
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Arsenal got off to a dream start at Anfield as goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus put them 2-0 up inside the first 28 minutes
They had to settle for a point in a game they so easily could’ve lost though
They had to settle for a point in a game they so easily could’ve lost though
Xhaka left an arm on Alexander-Arnold as he played a pass back to Alisson, the right-back then pushed the Gunners midfielder in retaliation, and this led to the duo then coming face to face as tensions boiled over.
Anfield woke up after that incident and just one minute and 27 seconds later Mohamed Salah scored to reduce Arsenal’s lead.
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Salah missed a penalty after the break but Liverpool didn’t miss the opportunity to put a dent in Arsenal‘s title push as Roberto Firmino equalised on 87 minutes.
But for two outstanding stoppage-time saves by Aaron Ramsdale in the Arsenal goal, the north Londonders would’ve left Merseyside empty-handed.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Carragher expressed his frustrations with Xhaka for his actions in front of the Anfield crowd when his side were comfortable.
“It sounds silly, I’m glad Xhaka did it but I’m angry with Xhaka. I’m not an Arsenal fan but if I was an Arsenal fan, what are you doing, doing that? It’s absolutely daft
“The game’s in your hands, you get involved, even leaving the challenge, the arm, why do it? And now coming back head to head with Trent riles the crowd up.
“Absolutely idiotic from Xhaka to do that and you know what, he’s been fantastic this season in a slightly different role higher up the pitch, had a huge influence on this team. But that was going back to the old Xhaka.
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“Honestly, who knows if it leads to the goal, we don’t know, but for an experienced player to do something like that in this ground, the position he found himself in.
“There was only one way Liverpool could get back into that game, and that was with the help of the terraces. That’s just a football game, Liverpool right now can’t compete with Arsenal. But with the energy in the stadium they can, and they almost lost the game.”
Liverpool came roaring back with Firmino making it 2-2
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Liverpool came roaring back with Firmino making it 2-2
Is Xhaka culpable?
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Is Xhaka culpable?
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It bears a resemblance to an incident in this fixture last season which saw Arsenal boss Arteta unleash an incredible and very unexpected tirade towards opposite number Jurgen Klopp.
At the time Arsenal were shading things and stifling their title-chasing opponents, but the atmosphere took a turn and Liverpool went on to win 4-0.
Arteta was blamed for swinging the balance of the game in Liverpool’s favour and the Spaniard appeared to suggest the incident with Xhaka and Alexander-Arnold on Sunday contributed to Liverpool’s comeback.
He told Sky Sports: “It can happen as well because they scored a goal as well, and it lifted some momentum and it gives them some belief. It is what it is, the lesson is in the first 35-40 minutes.
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Arteta knows exactly what it’s like to lose it at Anfield having yelled at Klopp during the fixture last season in November 2021
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Arteta knows exactly what it’s like to lose it at Anfield having yelled at Klopp during the fixture last season in November 2021
No arguments for Arteta this time but not all of his players could keep their cool
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No arguments for Arteta this time but not all of his players could keep their cool
“The way the team played and to come to a ground like this and do what we’ve done.
“But after, we have to continue to realise the crowd, realise the result and we’re going to go and look for a third and a fourth.”
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Arsenal do have their fate in their own hands as they sit six points ahead of Manchester City, who have a game in hand on them.
It means the Gunners will probably be required to avoid defeat when they meet Pep Guardiola’s men on April 26. And that will require a calm head from all involved.
Reviewed by Eclectic Streams
on
April 09, 2023
Rating:
