Arsenal front three come out on top in topsy-turvy clash with Liverpool

One of the best attacking teams in the country, with a front line to make opponents sweat harder than the crowd at a warehouse techno night. Electric on the counter-attack with movement like quicksilver, they can transition from defence to attack faster than a flash of light. A constricting, heart-thumping anxiety attack for defenders, at their best they are almost unplayable going forwards. We could well be describing Liverpool here, but Arsenal would also fit the bill.

While Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino have been the most talked-about front three in Europe since their exploits last season, Alexandre Lacazette, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and – this one’s a little more of a stretch – Henrikh Mkhitaryan have been in the same bracket this term. Ahead of Saturday’s late kick off at the Emirates, Arsenal’s front three were trailing their Liverpool counterparts by a single league goal and a single assist. Four points and two places behind Liverpool before the start of the match, Arsenal had nonetheless scored four more goals overall and could plausibly claim to have been the better attacking side.

The hosts had also conceded 13 goals to their opponents’ four, which would explain the divergence in their league positions. While it looked like Arsenal would have to play with a makeshift full-back pairing at one point – with the less-than-speedy Stephan Lichtsteiner and Carl Jenkinson among their back-up options – Unai Emery was no doubt relieved to be able to field Hector Bellerin and Sead Kolasinac after their timely return from injury. Still, Arsenal’s defensive record was the main difference between the two teams. The combination of Liverpool’s explosive front three and Arsenal’s implosion-prone backline only really pointed to one outcome.

Attacking masterclass, bar the finishing

Given that their two front lines have been so well matched this season, it was fitting that both delivered an attacking masterclass in the first half. Kickstarting what was a genuinely brilliant match – atmospheres might be a luxury at the Emirates, but this game had one – Arsenal got in behind several times early on, with Lacazette flicking a close-range shot at Alisson five minutes in only for the Liverpool keeper to pluck the ball out of the air.

Liverpool thought they had scored after Firmino burst through the Arsenal back line and squared to Mane, but his teammate was narrowly called offside. Towards the end of the half the same would happen to Arsenal, Lacazette turning the ball past Alisson only to see the flag raised for an offside in the build-up. Aubameyang sliced wide after a lovely backheel flick from Mkhitaryan; Van Dijk hit the woodwork after a sliced ball from Salah; Mesut Ozil crafted a chance for Lacazette only for the latter to drill across the face of goal.

Scoreless at half time, then, but both sides could claim to have rippled the back of the net at least once. Other than that the finishing was the one, quite crucial, element that was lacking, with wave after wave of red and purple shirts crashing over the opposition defence only for the ball to rattle the post, spin past the upright or sail serenely over the crossbar.

Watching the two attacks combine, however, it was impossible not to feel dizzy. Mane, Salah and Firmino have a chemistry akin to some mad school science experiment involving potassium and water, while Aubameyang, Lacazette and Mkhitaryan – later replaced with Alex Iwobi – were more like mad rough sketches thrashed out by the hand of an art-school genius. The chances were relentless, the running was exhausting and the whole game soon descended into an advert for the populist attack! attack! attack! mantra. The second half was little different, barring the fact it featured some actual goals.

Victory for the Arsenal (front three)

In the end, though the two sides were forced to settle for a draw, it was the Arsenal front three who came out of the match on top. James Milner’s rifled effort was, somehow, the only goal for Liverpool, while Lacazette got the equaliser when he went the long way round Alisson before a trademark curling finish. It could have been the highest scoring match of the season, with Lucas Torreira – magnificent in the midfield – stinging Alisson’s palms, Salah dragging the Arsenal back four about like a kid with a battered ragdoll and Mane only a toe’s breadth away from poking home after his teammate teed him up from five yards.

They might not have closed the gap to Liverpool in terms of points, but Arsenal’s front line can now claim to be as prolific as their Merseyside rivals. Lacazette, Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan now have 13 league goals between them for the season (plus an assist for attacking understudy Iwobi), as do Mane, Salah and Firmino. For those of the attack! attack! attack! mentality, Arsenal and Liverpool are a joy to watch at the moment. When they meet again at Anfield in December, it’s anyone’s guess as to which front three will have scored the most.