London. Controversial judgments, incomprehensible character and young talents.
Much of the focus after Arsenal beat Liverpool will be on the referee and his VAR team.
It should be at least as much in Bukayo Saka.
Liverpool opening a game in their wake is nothing new under the sun. In the Emirates, Jürgen Klopp’s men also finished the first half by slowing down to take out key kicks.
All the spectators did not find their seats even when Gabriel Martinelli scored with a 1-0 goal for Arsenal. A ball triumphed in his own half, a smart pass to Boakio Saka on the right, a pass in the middle to Martin Odegaard and then a nicely balanced play for the lightning-quick copper.
It was a so-called dream start in a meeting in which Arsenal entered as player of the year for the first time in a long time. The stands were swaying wildly, and that’s a fresh reminder of how drastically the atmosphere here has changed in recent months. Success simply leads to more cheer and less booing.
Arteta was dealing with Diaz
Mikel Arteta’s match plan included a slightly less aggressive pressing game compared to the derby against Tottenham. While Takehiro Tomiyasu took his place at left-back, Granit Xhaka remained at a lower level than usual. Ben White, the right-back, has had more freedom to go forward and overlapped on the edge on a few occasions as he did so successfully against Spurs.
Between that 1-0 goal and the 2-1 goal, as it turned out, Liverpool started to make their way into the game. Trent Alexander-Arnold maintained his low position in the Champions League meeting with Rangers earlier this week. That’s not to say the England player was kept out of sight excessively, as he delivered at Anfield a few enjoyable attacking passes.
Liverpool’s attack succeeded at its best when the front lines ran into balls behind the opponent’s defense line. Especially when Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz, with the help of their impressive movement patterns, broke up the pair of centre-backs Gabriel and William Saliba. That’s exactly what happened in the 34th minute when Gabriel misjudged the ball and Diaz poked it into his Uruguayan teammate in the penalty area. Watch goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale helpless as Nunez rolls into the equaliser.
A minute earlier, Arteta rebounded along the touchline and was incredibly close to pushing Liverpool winger Diaz who blasted forward with the ball. Seconds later, the coach appeared while holding his forehead and then raising his hand to the fourth referee as if to say “Fuck, sorry”. The coach may have sensed how Arsenal lost their grip on the event.
in a mess
But, as I said, the first half ended happily for the home team. Liverpool’s free kick turned in favor of Arsenal, who took advantage of Alexander-Arnold leaving the area in front of goal completely open when he opted out of Martinelli. Instead, Saka regained the lead by moving the ball behind Alisson.
After Klopp replaced Alexander-Arnold (in place of Joe Gomez), full-back Joel Matip (for Ibrahima Konate) and Mohamed Salah (defensive midfielder Fabinho), the match was decided.
Roberto Firmino, who had previously replaced the injured Diaz, scored the equalizer just over ten minutes into the second half. But the chaotic situation in the Liverpool penalty area has sparked joy and anger, depending on which camp you belong to. Is the punishment that Gabriel Jesus receives cheap? Thiago is not on the ball, but most would probably agree it’s not the most obvious punishment ever.
Klopp must not run away…
Liverpool’s anger may have been linked to a missed call earlier in the game, when the ball clearly hit Gabriel’s hand in the Arsenal penalty area. It is interesting how the judges differ in Premier League Just judging by hand (I myself gave up trying to understand a long time ago). Barely 24 hours before the match in the Emirates, for example, Dan Byrne from Newcastle received a verdict against him, perhaps not identical, but similar.
Let’s just say that Judge Michael Oliver is unlikely to be praised for his efforts.
It is easy to fall here as a Liverpool fan, in criticism of the refereeing. But Klopp should not slip away easily. The head coach’s eleven can be questioned, and the choices during the match itself definitely need clarification. Like stubbornly continuing with Jordan Henderson, even though the format of two seasons ago is over. The truth is that the defensive work of the player did not resist such a strong opposition above all.
Bukayo Saka’s second goal from a penalty kick put the final touches on this heavy and heavy win for Arsenal. When Henderson’s runs aren’t enough, Saka rushes forward as if he was the one to make over 300 matches. Anyway, Mikel Arteta depends on the future.