Last Monday we were given what was supposed to be a high scoring and entertaining affair. Instead we were givin a game of two halfs. One where chech pulled off world class saves and another where arsenal played 90% of the game in liverpools half.
The first half started off with couthino hitting the bar with a great lay back from Christian benteke. Who looked very livaly the entire match. This happening so early in the game it would seem that we were destined to have goals. Now It’s fair to point out that arsenal played the entire game with the two back up center backs. Callum chambers espiccaly looked nervous and gave the ball away at key moments in the game with all that said they did keep a clean sheet.
The next big event was the goal of Arron Ramsey which was incorrectly called offside after the replays were shown. This came against the run of play of course with Liverpool playing rather well. This goal did come from a out of position Ramsey which still brings up the question of who sits when everyone is fit for arsenal because Ramesy is thought to do better more centrally in the pitch.
The next two events were some of the best saves of the season so far from Peter cech one was a sublime save from Phillip Coutinho the other was a save on benteke from 6 yards out. You can pick out which was the better save yourself.
The second half was a complete and utter stereotypical performance from arsenal lots of possession and not lots of chances. This is not to say that they didn’t have any chances. Alexis came close and so did giroud but you would expect more chances with the amount of possession they had.
The Aftermath:
Ill start with the better side on the night in my opinion, Liverpool. They have now gone 3 games unbeaten and 3 clean sheets. This is much more improved then last season where Liverpool had a schambolic defense. Mignolet and skertial seem to be in impeccable form which kept arsenal out for the entire night.
Arsenal seem to have more pressing problems because in the second half they looked “toothless” in possession with giroud just not being enough. But with benzema almost certainly not coming they need to find another world class striker or they won’t win the league. Arsenals defense looked terrible being bailed out several times by peter cech but it’s not exactly fair to judge them off one performance with both of the back up center backs. The more pressing matter is arsenal needing another striker if they want to challenge.
All in all arsenal had the more pressing matters. But both teams need to improve if they want to reach their goals. Perhaps they can show if they have overcome these problems this weekend vs their own respectable opponents.
A game which was destined for entertainment. Did give us that but not in a goal scoring fassion but rather a real look into the problems for both teams.