Published: 14 January, 2016
by STEVE BARNETT and DAN CARRIER

OLIVIER Giroud hopes Arsenal won’t live to “regret” the last-gasp equaliser they conceded last night (Wednesday) in a thrilling 3-3 draw against Liverpool.

Giroud scored two goals as Arsenal twice came from behind to lead 3-2 at Anfield. But with the points all but in the bag, substitute Joe Allen popped up to score a deserved equaliser for the home side. 

It’s a goal Giroud is hoping won’t come back to haunt the Gunners. 

“It was a nice game for the fans – a lot of intensity and chances to score,” he said. 

“When you concede three goals in an away game it is hard to win. My first feeling is disappointment but we have shown some character to come back from 1-0 and 2-1 down.

“Hopefully, we are not going to have to regret this goal at the end of the championship. It is still a draw. It’s a good performance but we could have done better.”

The pulsating Anfield affair produced four goals in the opening 25 minutes. Liverpool twice led through two Roberto Firmino strikes, his second a stunning 25-yard curling effort. But the Gunners battled back both times, courtesy of goals from Aaron Ramsey and Giroud. The French forward looked to have won it on 55 minutes when his shot on the turn gave Arsenal the lead, but Allen’s 90th-minute equaliser capped one of the games of the season.

It was a result that most benefited Leicester, who moved level on points with Arsenal at the top of the table following their 1-0 win over Tottenham at White Hart Lane.

Defender Robert Huth scored the only goal of the game seven minutes from time when he headed home Christian Fuchs’ corner.

It was a defeat that left Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino perplexed.

“I’m disappointed. We created the better chances, and when you do that you need to score,” he said.

“All the stats are positive for us. It’s difficult to explain – we deserved more and to win the game. In football you can get punished for one little mistake.”