Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal (Salah 42′, Firmino 87′ | Martinelli 8, Jesus 28′)
ANFIELD — At 2-0 you could already picture the scenes at the final whistle.
A quarter of a century after cameras panned to curly-haired, soon-to-be-infamous Barry Ferst in the Arsenal away end going near insane after Marc Overmars’ winner at Old Trafford set the Gunners on their way to the 1997-98 Premier League title, the same, aged Ferst would be sought out in the crowd, celebrating with equal vigour the victory that put his team on the cusp of glory once more.
There appeared no chance of an Easter Sunday resurrection at Anfield as a second-best Liverpool stared down the barrel of another defeat, with the Arsenal doubters retreating, en masse. Perhaps there really was going to be no collapse after all.
Manchester City are in proper beast mode. This is when they can go on 13, 14 or 15 game winning streaks, without breaking stride. That is what makes what unfolded on Merseyside, and the way Arsenal capitulated under pressure, all the more difficult to take.
Given Arsenal’s wretched Anfield record, this encounter had been earmarked by the naysayers for several weeks as the Gunners responded brilliantly to their defeat to City in mid-February with a seven-match winning streak.
Despite Liverpool’s troubles in this season of consistent woe, their home form against the top teams has been a shining light. City were put to the sword in October by a man with a penchant for slaying Manchester sides, Mohamed Salah, with the Egyptian at his very best to help demolish Manchester United last month.
Yet, 28 minutes in on Sunday, with Liverpool’s hapless backline all at sea, Gabriel Martinelli’s prodded finish and Gabriel Jesus’ pinpoint header had seemingly silenced the Gunners’ phalanx of pessimists. It could have been more, such was the disparity between the two sides.
Somehow, with Liverpool doing a terrible job of trying to impersonate a Jurgen Klopp side, Arsenal crumbled in what Mikel Arteta labelled the “jungle” of a stadium. Only the fittest and fiercest survive in such environments, and the Gunners ended up nearly getting eaten alive.
Trying to impersonate a champions elect side, Arsenal did their best to kill the match before half time, when they were perhaps better served putting a vastly inferior Liverpool to bed.
All the shithousery boxes were ticked. Showing studs, leaving an arm in, hitting the ground after being hit by a stiff breeze off the Mersey. Instead of further frustrating the hosts, such conduct only got the onlooking herd’s backs up. Something no visitor wants to do in the heat of the jungle.
It reeked of a side not quite knowing how to close out potential title-defining matches in hostile atmospheres. You know what would have done more harm? A third goal.
"I'm NOT a big fan of goalkeepers, but THIS!"
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 9, 2023
Has Aaron Ramsdale won Roy Keane over?!pic.twitter.com/wRkcPD4Ixs
Aaron Ramsdale was required to make two stunning saves to preserve even a point for the Gunners, but still there was time for one, Overmars-esque late winner to spark those scenes of wild celebration, but Martinelli’s seemingly simple slot through to a free Bukayo Saka was inexplicably overhit.
One point is better than none and most other seasons a six-point lead, amid an eight-match unbeaten run, would be a prime spot to be in, and make Arsenal overwhelming favourites for a first league title in 19 years.
But Manchester City are no ordinary title challenger. The financial breach charges levelled at City wounded the beast, and have made them even more determined to succeed, sticking it to the powers that be being the additional, golden-plated carrot.
Arteta, bred on this unrelenting hunger at City, knows this all too well, and that is why the Arsenal players looked so dejected as Roberto Firmino headed home the late leveller. This was not just two points dropped, but a huge momentum shift. And it was mostly of the Gunners own making.
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