FA PREMIER LEAGUE 

ARSENAL 2 (Saka 9, Merino 43)
LIVERPOOL 2 (Van Dijk 18, Salah 81)

IT was honours even after a pulsating game filled with heavy tackles, sloppy mistakes, yet more defender injuries, VAR ruler pedantry going the Gunners’ way for a change – and a beautiful moment from Bukayo Saka.

The trio of match officials were booed off at the end by fans frustrated by what felt like the lion’s share of poor decisions.

The effort could not be faulted though in a crunch clash critics had expected the Gunners to lose.

Arsenal dominated the first half and were unlucky to only be one up at the break.

But they were under the cosh for long spells of the second, and struggled to string passes together.

The match started perfectly with Saka, back from injury, leaving Andy Robertson for dead after an inch perfect long ball from Ben White.

He chopped back, sending the defender sprawling on the floor, before smashing it past keeper Kelleher.

Shortly after, van Dijk nodded in a corner ripped right out of the George Graham’s playbook: Diaz rising like Steve Bould at the near post to flick on to his captain.

Mikel Merino – Arsenal’s somewhat shaky looking summer signing – missed a sitter and almost handed Mo Salah a free shot on goal in the opening 20 minutes.

But he went from villain to hero instantly after meeting a free kick, curled in by Declan Rice, with a bullet header.

The VAR had earlier rejected calls for a penalty after Gabriel Martinelli got crushed between Konate and van Dijk in the box.

But this time, after what seemed like an age, the ruler pedants approved Merino’s goal.

Arsenal were at this stage heavily on top. But shots were getting blazed high and wide, with a lack of composure showing from the attackers.

An Alex MacAllister header was well-saved by David Raya just before half time, a little warning of what was to come.

The second half was a struggle to watch for the home fans, particularly after Gabriel went down injured and had to be replaced by Jakob Kiwior.

It was a substitution no one wanted to see.

The Gunners were playing with White and Kiwior as centre backs, Thomas Partey at right back and the just-back-from-injury Jurien Timber on the left.

Liverpool sensed the unease and came firing back and you sensed the goal was coming.

But then it was the visitors that started playing sloppy touches, giving the Gunners decent chances and possession, taking the pressure off.

Then Timber went down injured, replaced by Lewis-Skelly who played well in the last 15.

But it was down his side that the crushing equaliser came.

A great chance for Martinelli turned into a Liverpool counter attack, with a straight forward long ball finding Darwin Nunez in acres.

No one tracked Salah, and he tucked in to an empty net.

Raya could have arguably have come out to claim the ball before Nunez reached it, but stood back.

Arsenal finished the stronger as Liverpool sat back protecting the point.

Jesus hit a firm half volley right down the throat of Kelleher and in injury time poked in after Kai Havertz bustled the ball over the keeper and back off the post.

It was disallowed for a foul.

Havertz, Martinelli and Trossard are not clinical enough and do not look like an attacking trio that are going to win the Gunners the title.

Clearly feeling as if it was two points dropped, Arteta said: “I’m very proud of the team especially with the situation that we are going through at the moment, and probably cannot imagine. But overall I think, especially first half, it was a total domination, we were really, really good, really sharp, really efficient, really determined and the result should’ve been bigger.

“Without conceding anything, basically we gave two goals away which is the disappointing part. And the fact we couldn’t see the game off, especially looking at ourselves, the two things that we didn’t do particular well and obviously about other aspects.”

Arsenal: Raya, Partey, White, Gabriel (Kiwior 56), Timber (Lewis-Skelly 73), Rice, Merino, Saka (Jesus 84), Trossard, Martinelli (Nwaneri 84), Havertz
Subs not used: Neto, Zinchenko, Jorginho, Sterling, Nichols

Liverpool: Kelleher, Arnold, van Dijk, Konate, Robertson (Tsmiskas 63), Mac Allister (Szboszlai 63), Jones, Gravenback, Salah, Diaz (Gakpo 63), Nunez
Subs not used: Janos, Davies, Gomez, Endo, Quansah, Morton

Attendance 60083