That was alright wasn’t it? Good result, even better performance. There’s definitely an element of disappointment there too because this was a good opportunity to pick up a rare win at the Emirates, particularly as they were missing both of their centre halves. They had all their forwards though, so to keep them as quiet as we did provides cause for optimism.
Brendan made a few changes, two of them enforced and one through choice, but just as they had in the two previous games the team had a good shape to it and were very disciplined in their work without the ball. This time though we looked decent when we had it, at least in the first half anyway. It all went a bit pear shaped in the second but the new found resilience we have added saw us pick up a well earned point.
That first half was great though, the only thing missing was the goal we deserved. At half time I was buzzing at how we’d played but worried that it would all count for nothing because we hadn’t got our noses in front. That was due to a combination of bad luck, great goalkeeping and sloppiness on the part of Benteke. He should have buried that chance he had, it looked a certain goal and that’s probably why he missed. It looked like he just thought all he had to do was make contact with the cross and that would be enough, but by not putting his foot through it Cech got back to keep it out. Great save, but Benteke should score.
That said, his performance was very good again and we looked dangerous throughout the opening 45 minutes. Coutinho was just brilliant, he led Arsenal a merry dance at times and although he faded after half time that was more about how the flow of the game moved away from us than anything else. It was difficult for him to have the same influence when we were suddenly forced back and having to defend.
His first half display was probably the best he’s played for us away from Anfield though, he was absolutely dazzling at times. The link up with Benteke is improving all the time and they almost combined to give us the lead when the big fella picked out the little fella, and his sweetly struck shot smacked the underside of the bar. So, so unlucky as the ball had been slightly behind him and it was a fantastic hit.
He was even more unlucky with the one Cech tipped onto the post. Poor old Bellerin is probably still trying to work out what happened, as he was tied in knots. The strike was brilliant and looked to be heading in via the inside of the post before Cech’s intervention. Have to say I’m a bit pissed off at how Cech decided to wait until we came to town before reminding everyone how great he is. How come keepers never have those bad days against us? We always get them when they’re having worldies, especially Cech who always saves his best for us, the big fucking gorp.
We had other chances too and the longer the half went on the more we had them on the ropes. The Emirates crowd did what they always do; they turned on the team, kicking off over every misplaced pass, and when that’s happening you really need to capitalise. The same thing happened in the fixture last season, we had them reeling and the crowd turned on them, before we then gave them three goals in ten minutes or something and suddenly they were all cocky again.
If we’d gotten ourselves in front when we were on top they’d have probably completely turned on their players in a big way. Arsenal fans are the fucking worst, thinking they’re God’s gift to football. If only we’d taken one of those chances, the airwaves were flooded afterwards with the angry “Wenger out” Goon squad, and that was after a draw. I can only imagine how furious they’d have been if they lost. Of course in a couple of weeks when they’ve won three in a row they’ll be back to the old “In Arsene we trust” bollocks. As I said, they’re the fucking worst.
Unsurprisingly, they were much improved in the second half and they had us penned back for long spells. We didn’t help ourselves though as our counter attacking play was really poor. Too many times we’d play a bad pass, make a bad decision or just take too long to get moving. There were real opportunities to get at them but we didn’t make enough of them and it was incredibly frustrating.
Firmino wasn’t great but he’ll get better with games. He did some good things but understandably tired as it went on. What did surprise me was how bad Ibe was after coming on to replace him. The game was set up perfectly for him to come on and give Monreal a proper chasing as Arsenal threw men forward, but he ended up just killing us. Every time the ball went to him he lost it, and when Moreno was brought on to tighten things up late on it probably should have been at Ibe’s expense rather than Coutinho’s.
You want Li’l Phil on there as long as possible, just look at the Stoke game. Obviously it wasn’t a realistic option as you just don’t sub the sub, especially when he’s a teenager as you don’t want to inflict that kind of humiliation on a player, but the kid was having a ‘mare and in hindsight Ings would have been a better option to bring on. Can’t blame Rodgers for that though as there was no way of knowing Ibe wasn’t going to perform. He just needs something to happen that kick starts his season as he’s a massive talent but he’s shown nothing so far this season.
He was the one blemish on an otherwise fine team display. The defence especially really stood up to be counted. Skrtel had a five or ten minute spell when he was having to work overtime to keep them quiet and he seemed to be clearing everything, I thought he was terrific.
Mind you, he was inches away from putting through his own net and last season you just know that would have flown in past Mignolet. We’re getting the rub of the green so far this year though, and Arsenal had a legitimate goal ruled out for offside in the first half. Ramsay was just about onside but when it’s such a close call it’s difficult to blame the linesman too much for not getting it right. That’s two games in a row we’ve benefitted though, and long may it continue.
Lovren was fine once again. He didn’t do anything especially good or bad that would bring him to people’s attention, he just had a quietly efficient game and did his job. There was one moment when I thought he was going to concede a penalty as it looked like he pulled Giroud back, but the replay showed he didn’t touch him and the striker just kind of fell as he stretched to get a shot away (which was well saved by Mig).
The two full backs were great though, especially Gomez. Clyne’s performance level is something I feel we’re going to be taking for granted and he’s probably not getting the praise he deserves for how he’s started his Liverpool career. He’s been terrific but he’s almost flown under the radar a bit, at least on a national level anyway, probably because of how the teenager on the opposite flank has been performing.
In that second half Arsenal were trying to get at Gomez but he stood firm and kept winning all of his individual duels. He’s such a good defender that it doesn’t really matter that he’s not contributing that much going the other way (he did have have one brilliant run forward though and also put in a couple of good crosses in the second half). It’s still early days of course but Gomez looks the real deal doesn’t he?
The defence as a whole are benefitting from Rodgers being more pragmatic this year. Little things like Mignolet time wasting, bringing on Moreno to shut up shop and the extra protection from the midfield all point to a shift in approach. The midfield did a great job of plugging all the holes Arsenal like to exploit in and around the box. You’re never going to completely stop them and every now and again they’ll get through, like when Sanchez hit the post, but for the most part they were left frustrated.
Lucas came in and did a Lucas-like job before he was replaced by Jordan Rossiter late on (round of applause for Rodgers for having the balls to play youngsters in such a big game) and Emre Can put in a big shift too, it felt like he ran more in this game than he did in the whole of last season. I had some reservations about whether he had the stamina to play in a Rodgers midfield, but this suggests there’s nothing to worry about. He was very good, but the pick of the midfield was Milner.
He’s my favourite player already. He’s great, I fucking love him. He’s everything we needed him to be and it feels like he’s been here years rather than months. He’s not flashy, he’s just meat and potatoes but he’s fucking ace. He’d fit into any team we’ve had in any era because he’s just a footballer who does his job, whatever that job may be. He’s not arsed about stupid haircuts, tattoos and ‘the lifestyle’ he’s just a pro’s pro. The only thing I’d change about him is he should call himself Jim, not James. James is a bit too posh for him, he’s defo more of a Jim.
He went into the position just in front of the back four when Lucas went off and he was great. Rossiter and Can played in front of him and we looked surprisingly comfortable. After surviving that spell when Sanchez hit the post and Giroud was a whisker away from getting on the end of two crosses, I never really felt too concerned that we’d let one in, although my arse did go when Mignolet came and missed at the end and Dwayne Dibley thankfully headed over the bar.
Seconds earlier we’d wasted a good opportunity ourselves when Moreno intercepted a pass on the edge of his own box and then took off. Within seconds he was in the Arsenal box. There are few players better than him at carrying the ball long distances at pace, and few who are worse than him when they actually get there.
He’d done the hard part and it opened up for him nicely. He just needed to cut back onto his left side and shoot like he did at Spurs last season, or maybe even square it Benteke. Instead he went inside and just ran straight into a defender. Frustrating as it would have been a great way to end the game and I would have loved to have seen the reaction from the Arsenal fans.
Perhaps on reflection we should have had the three points given the first half performance and the weakness at the heart of their defence, but a point and a clean sheet is defo not to be sniffed at especially as it keeps the unbeaten start going.
The two things to take from this are the continued defensive resilience, and the attacking football we saw in the first half. If we’re beginning to put that together then things could get interesting. Beat West Ham this weekend and that would be as good a start as anyone would have dared to hope for.
With Benteke and Coutinho beginning to click and Firmino surely only going to get better over the next few weeks, things are suddenly looking a hell of a lot more positive than they were before a ball was kicked. Dare we get our hopes up? If we beat West Ham and then go and get something from Old Trafford, I think I just might you know.
Star man is probably Gomez, but several others were worthy of consideration which is always a good thing.
Team: Mignolet; Clyne, Skrtel, Lovren, Gomez; Lucas (Rossiter), Milner, Can; Firmino (Ibe), Coutinho (Moreno); Benteke:
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