Arsenal result at Liverpool debated as Gunners positive claims under microscope
The faces of the Arsenal fans in the Anfield Road end when Gabriel Jesus put the Gunners 2-0 up told their own story.
Wild celebrations followed the Brazilian's header, and suddenly a match which had long been billed as so significant for their Premier League title hopes was only going one way.
Liverpool looked tired and weak, as they have for much of their season, and the possibility for a huge three points for the visitors was clear.
But by the end those three points had become one, thanks to a combination of a foolish Granit Xhaka push, a Reds resurrection on and off the pitch and a comeback which should have ended in Jurgen Klopp's side taking all three points.
Arsenal's players and their manager were queuing up to stress the positives of the point after the game, but were they just putting a brave face on it? Was this one point gained or two dropped?
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We asked out Mirror Football team.
John Cross
It has to be seen as two points dropped by Arsenal.
And in this title race, that could be very costly because Manchester City are on a relentless winning streak.
Yes, we could talk about Liverpool deserving at least a point on the balance of play, chances and being thwarted by Aaron Ramsdale ’s brilliant saves.
And yes, Anfield is a tough place to go and win. In a normal season, a point would be a good result. But this is not a normal season and Arsenal had victory in their grasp.
Arsenal were brilliant in the first half. They were ruthless to go 2-0 up and in complete control. If they had gone in at half time 2-0 up then I’m convinced they would have won.
Gabriel Jesus had put Arsenal 2-0 up at Anfield (PA)Instead, Granit Xhaka needlessly stoked up the Liverpool crowd - which had been quiet and frustrated - by getting involved in a silly row.
Liverpool scored a minute later, the second half was relentless and Arsenal will be kicking themselves. Then when you get to the 87th minute still 2-1 up, you have to see it out.
But here’s the thing: Arsenal are having the season of their lives. Why can’t they win at Man City on April 26? No-one is even considering that as a possibility. Arsenal look to have a tougher run-in but City have more games both in the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup.
The title race is still in Arsenal’s hands. But how they react after the Liverpool setback is now key. They’ve spent all season answering every question.
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Simon Bird
The first one is the hardest to win. Obviously it's not strictly the first Premier League title Arsenal are going for but it is 2004, 19 years since their last one, but the same rule applies for Mikel Arteta’s revamp of the Gunners..
The closer they get, the more they’ll think about it rather than freewheeling towards wins on instinct and confidence.
Mikel Arteta will have to deal with the psychology of the situation, the self doubt. Can he ease the pressure and keep his brilliant stars relaxed? Maybe.
Mikel Arteta will have to deal with the psychology of the result (AP)But the gut feeling is that Arsenal will blow it, sadly for those of us who’d like the title shares around a bit and not become a monopoly of a couple of clubs. Manchester City have the look of a machine reaching maximum efficiency at the time, with 8 wins in a row.
Arsenal lost a two goal lead at Anfield, with a healthy title lead in their grasp. It is a point gained, because anything other than a defeat is a positive at Anfield, even these days. Arsenal have City and Newcastle still to visit. City have the easier run in. Advantage Pep.
Was Arsenal's point at Liverpool a good or bad result? Have your say in the comments section
Mike Walters
Champions don't surrender 2-0 leads away from home on the run-in.
Champions don't fire up opponents in the 'Jungle' by getting involved in stupid push-and-shove when the atmosphere has been more subdued than a karaoke night in a Trappist monastery for 30 minutes.
And champions don't need their goalkeeper to make two world-class saves in the dying seconds to preserve one point when they should have been collecting three.
If Arsenal look in the rear-view mirror, that juggernaut tailgating them is not just bigger, more powerful and more brutal than any other truck on the road: It's got an unlimited supply of fuel.
The Premier League probe into more than 100 allegations of financial doping at Manchester City won't be concluded in time to have any effect on this title race. Now it's in the hands of lawyers, judgement is not expected to be delivered until the 12th of Never.
And the biggest fear, for every Arsenal fan, is that if they lose at the Etihad on April 26 and City steal a fifth title in six years, they may not just live to regret two dropped points at Anfield.
If the Gunners fall just short this season, it might be years before they get another chance to wear the crown.
David McDonnell
Given they were leading 2-0 at Anfield, it must go down as two points dropped for Arsenal.
Failure to win has given Manchester City a route back into the title race, and you wouldn't bet against Pep Guardiola's side winning all of their remaining games, to make it a fifth Premier League crown in six years.
Of course Mikel Arteta publicly hailed it as a point gained, for he cannot allow his players to think they have stumbled mentally, as the title race enters the home straight and the pressure intensifies.
Arsenal threw away their two goal lead (Jon Super/AP/REX/Shutterstock)But Arteta will know Sunday was an opportunity spurned by him and his players, even though Liverpool ended the game the stronger of the two sides, with Jurgen Klopp insisting his team should have won.
City now know, if they win their game in hand and beat Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium on April 26, they will be in pole position to go on and clinch the title.
That is why Sunday could ultimately prove so costly for Arteta and his players, as they try to land a first title for two decades.
Kieran King
For me, it is a point gained for Arsenal.
Despite going two-nil down, you always felt Liverpool would get back into the game with the Anfield roar on their side. That is what happened and they arguably should have gone on to win the game.
Aaron Ramsdale was in fine form and Liverpool accumulated an overall xG of 4.76, with Mohamed Salah missing a penalty and a host of other clear-cut opportunities.
It felt as though the Reds were going to nick all three points at the end - and Arsenal were fortunate to come away with the draw given the way they played and defended.
Although Manchester City have won five in a row and will now fancy themselves to catch Arsenal, I still feel it's the Gunners' to lose and I back Mikel Arteta's side to get over the line and win the title for the first time in 19 years this season.
Aaron Ramsdale was in superb form (Liverpool FC via Getty Images)Felix Keith
This question boils down to whether you have an optimistic or pessimistic outlook in football.
In this situation, I am inclined to see the positives: Arsenal remain six points ahead of Manchester City with eight matches left to play this season.
They were absolutely battered by Liverpool in the second half at Anfield – a ground where they have an atrocious record – and needed a penalty miss and two stunning Aaron Ramsdale saves to secure a point. Liverpool’s xG was a whopping 4.76 to their 1.81. That is good fortune and the Gunners should be pleased with their point.
City are in ominous form, have a game in hand on Arsenal and host Mikel Arteta’s side on April 26 in what promises to be a match of monumental importance.
But, Arsenal are hardly throwing it away. Before this game they had won seven in succession, scoring 23 goals in the process. Their fate is still in their hands. It was never going to be easy – they’ve just got to show their credentials in the coming weeks.
Colin Millar
This was a bad way to get a good result for Arsenal.
The Gunners have not tasted Premier League victory at Anfield in over a decade. Manchester City have won just once at the stadium in the league in that timeframe. Each of the last four Manchester United managers has gone to the home of the Reds and not won.
Arsenal are not the chasers and they remain six points clear, albeit having played a game more. They should never have expected to win this game, as they should not expect to win trips to Manchester City or Newcastle. These matches, along with trips to Anfield and Old Trafford, are uniquely difficult this season.
Mikel Arteta escaped Merseyside with a draw and their status as league leaders intact, without fresh suspensions or injury worries. Unlike City, they have no cup distractions and of all the variables remaining, they can control them.
Ibrahima Konate’s incredible late miss on Sunday may yet go down in Arsenal folklore.
Was Arsenal's point at Liverpool a good or bad result? Have your say in the comments section
Roberto Firmino scored Liverpool's late equaliser (Getty Images)Josh O'Brien
Given the state of play and for the sake of their morale moving forward, Arsenal have to view this as a point gained.
The Gunners must take heart from the fact that for 40 minutes or so, they made light work of Liverpool on a ground that swallows up just about every opponent that enters.
Of course, it wasn't the ending Mikel Arteta or his players would have hoped for, but without some heroics from Aaron Ramsdale it could have been so much worse. They avoided defeat, something Manchester City couldn't do at Anfield earlier this season.
There is plenty of football left to be played yet, and with City having to juggle Champions League commitments as well, there is every chance Arsenal look back on a point gained at Anfield rather fondly in May.
Mark Jones
As Sunday's opponents would be able to tell them, when you're in a title race with Manchester City it becomes all too tempting to kid yourselves that everything is okay.
Last season Liverpool won 16 of their final 18 games of the season, only dropping points in a 2-2 thriller away at City and in a 1-1 draw at home to Antonio Conte's well-drilled Tottenham. Both perfectly fine Premier League results, you'd think.
In 2018-19 the Reds only dropped points in one of their final 11 games of the season, a goalless draw at Everton in early March. Again, there's nothing really wrong with that, particularly as they then won their last nine.
Jurgen Klopp knows all about tight title races (AFP via Getty Images)In both seasons though they would go on to lose the title to City by a point, and so that is why you simply have to press home any advantage against them when you have one.
At 2-0 up, playing terrific football and physically dominating a Reds side showing all of this season's flaws and weaknesses the game looked done, only for the Gunners to spook themselves.
Yes they could and should have lost it at the end, and so in that grasping sense it could be seen as a point gained, but by that end they had very limited control over what was going on and their left-back was crying on the bench.
Arsenal ceded ground in a game they were going to win, and ceded ground in the title race too.
Liverpool can tell them that there is often no coming back from that.
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