Liverpool v Arsenal Saturday 23rd December 5.30pm: Page 22 - The Arsenal discussion forum and community: One More in the Tolly

Liverpool v Arsenal Saturday 23rd December 5.30pm

IBL

MotD was pretty garbage today, just praised TAA and said Ode's handball was a pen, not a single positive said about Arsenal.

goon

IBL

Or any analysis on the game in general. How you have a game of this magnitude and nature and decide you want to focus on TAAs passing?

At least they’re tearing into Antony. Main reason I turned in.

lorddulaarsenal

Odegaard has been off for ages now.

Henry14th

lorddulaarsenal he hasn’t hit the form of last season but he’s picking up stride again after the injury.

Gurgen

lorddulaarsenal Odegaard put on what was probably the best display of any player in the league so far just last week

Pepe LeFrits

I thought Odegaard was really good today. In fact I think all our central players were varying degrees of good. Saliba, Gabriel and Rice are such a strong core, but Odegaard was super involved in building out. Although it wasn't his best game in terms of attacking actions, Havertz also contributed to our solidity and I appreciated his ability to win/receive balls high up the pitch and keep it composed and play simple, efficient football, particularly considering a couple of our players played like their hair was on fire.

I think a lot of the comments are harsh for sure; it wasn't a big statement or champions crowning performance but nonetheless it was impressive enough in a bunch of ways. Liverpool are far stronger than last year, one of the best teams in Europe in my view and their ground is a graveyard for us. I was happy enough with the performance and the result.

I think with Timber or Tomiyasu in that side we probably edge them and make a commanding win. We lack the x factor in attack that they have but our core is so strong now, and I think our team has an identity and organisation that is formidable. We need at least one new forward who is capable of pushing our first choice trio out of the side though. That's the main issue in the squad for me at the mo and unfortunately I don't think it'll be addressed until next summer

Mirth

A draw at Anfield is a solid result - before today they only drew once at home. We just need to bury them at the Emirates

Henry14th

Mirth yeah 4 points out the 6 available against one of the main title challengers would be a huge return.

Qwiss

Henry14th considering we've already 3 from City too. If we could avoid defeat against them away and beat Liverpool at home we'd be looking very strong for the title.

Panda

Henry14th yep and we can still get 4 from 6 against City too. Could swing it in our favour.

Clrnc

RocktheCasbah best was VVD post match.

Just a week ago after the draw against United he said Their foot all is disgusting and Liverpool will never play like that ever. Very very disappointed with a draw.

Today he said what a match, draw is deserved for both team and he was happy to be involved etc.

lorddulaarsenal

That pitch was an absolute joke by the way - slip n slide

lorddulaarsenal

Seems to be able to do it occasionally at the Emirates - need him to start imposing himself in away games against big teams

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert

lorddulaarsenal completely agree. Yesterday he was lame as fuck and I won't hear otherwise.

Segway

Tactics Agree. Liverpool were pressing like mad and the pitch was a horrible slippery mess. Who wouldnt have struggled under those conditions? Zinchenko vs Salah will always be a mismatch. Zinny is just not a defender. Bit harsh to throw him completely under the bus.

All in all it was a very good point.

Claudius

Delighted with this result. Looking forward to a rewatch. Defensively, I thought we were supreme. I believe this was Liverpool’s lowest shots at home this season. That triangle of Rice, Saliba and Gabriel is world class. But Martinelli, Kai, Ode and Raya also put in a defensive shift.

It was offense that killed us. Zinchenko, Rice and Ode were excellent going forward but the frontline players lacked cutting edge. Contrast with Salah who really only got one opening from an incredible TAA pass and punished us.

I did feel for Mikel because I think his hands were somewhat tied on substitutions for frontline

Clrnc

Claudius Looking forward to a rewatch

Just rewatched the entire match and had some observations

1) The Anfield crowd was really up for from min 1. Atmosphere was insane thanks to Klopp's comments, but it all went quiet within 3 minutes

2) After we scored, Rice gathered everyone in the huddle and we didn't even celebrate much. Probably trying to tell everyone what happened last season, keep us in check and stay focus.

3) We played very well in patches, but overall Liverpool had the upper hand. Was disappointing we couldn't impose ourselves at all in the 2nd half, but other than one Salah half chance and the 5v1 Raya didn't have much to do. That's in stark contrast to Ramsdale last year where he was a superhuman and we were barraged. All credit to Arteta, we were very well prepared and super structured.

4) Saliba and Rice are the best in the world in their position. Since probably Henry we never had someone thats the best in their position.

5) Klopp said "wow wow wow what a match" to Arteta at the final whistle and they exchanged pleasantries at the final whistle. The admirations of each others' team is obvious and both are proud of their teams. Quite weird to see both teams clapping and being happy at the final whistle.

daredevil

Claudius .

I'm not one to jump the gun, but having three titans in Saliba, Gabriel and Rice at the heart of the team, only to then have Raya behind them, feels like we're doing them a disservice.

Has Raya made a single unexpected save this season? I genuinely can't think of one. He's braver on the ball and has better passing stats, but is it markedly better to the point that it's worth sacrificing the saves that Ramsdale is capable of. Maybe, we need to dip in the market again for another GK.

I think Arteta has been proven right on every single contentious decision he's made, bar Martinez.

Irishgunner

I think it's a really good result and I'm fairly happy with the performance - we're typically guaranteed to get absolutely demolished at Anfield

Very good performances from Gabriel / Saliba / Rice in particular. Odegaard and Havertz were decent over the course of the game - although I think Odegaard was a bit slow on the ball to make decisions at times. Zinchenko is clearly a weak link defensively, I think Tomi is clearly better right now. The attack is missing some X factor I think - not sure how we fix it

Also first time I've seen Szobozlai play - he's excellent, would have been perfect in our system

Claudius

Odegaard was fine. We just needed more personality and higher positions from our front 3. Martinelli continues to be marooned on the left flank. He isn’t exchanging positions with Jesus and the L8 as much as he was last season and is disconnected from Ode. Same with Saka. He got a lot of the ball, but it was in very deep positions. We needed to find ways to release all of these guys higher. And for them to attack the box more, eg Saka’s dangerous cross which got no takers.

One thing we should have done on the day, switched wingers, to spread the field a bit more, eg Martinelli on the right crossing to Saka and Havertz. Saka pushing TAA back, especially late in the game

Gazza M

seen some suggestions the pitch was watered before the game and at half time. I assumed it had rained recently up there. either way, the pitch was in a horrible state

Mirth

Gazza M we’re lucky to come away with no injuries tbh. Horrible pitch - deliberate or not

JazzG

Gazza M Rumours of one side being heavily watered at half time as well.

One thing was clear, Liverpool were not bullish and confident going into this game. You could sense from their comments before and after the game. Though it should be added they played 3 days before even though the game was a walk in the park for them and they did heavily rotate. To their credit Liverpool played really well yesterday but we limited them to one clear TAA chance and that Salah goal which not many could pull off.

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