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Ed Aarons<\/p>\n
Point proven? Well, not exactly. Just when Arsenal looked ready to lay down a real marker for their title aspirations, a rejuvenated Liverpool<\/a> side that has been through the wringer since they were crowned champions last season proved the Gunners are still far from the finished article.<\/p>\n It could have been even worse for Mikel Arteta\u2019s side if Liverpool<\/a> had been awarded one of two potential penalties or if Conor Bradley\u2019s brilliant chip had not struck the crossbar in the first half. Arne Slot will be delighted with the way his much-maligned defence coped with Arsenal\u2019s threat before the break.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Dominik Szoboszlai’s reaction<\/p>\n We faced an unbelievable team and we showed why we became champions last season. I think this is a step forward after the recent weeks. We have to keep working as hard as we did today.<\/p>\n We tried to keep the ball as much as we could. We did it better in the second half although we didn\u2019t create many chances. Maybe if I\u2019d had a better day [he had five shots in the second half] we could have scored.<\/p>\n [On the Martinelli\/Bradley incident] I saw that Conor had twisted his knee. He wasn\u2019t trying to timewaste, he was just in so much pain. I understand that Arsenal want to win, we want to win as well, but the health of a player is much more important.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Ed Aarons\u2019 match report<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The last email of the night comes from Peter Oh<\/p>\n \u201cArsenal\u2019s winning run? End of.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The updated Premier League<\/a> table<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Full time: Arsenal 0-0 Liverpool<\/p>\n Madueke\u2019s big, inswinging corner is headed wide by Gabriel, just beyond the far post. That was a pretty good chance, but the ball dipped more sharply than expected and Gabriel couldn\u2019t make clean contact.<\/p>\n That\u2019s the last touch of a largely uneventful but genuinely intriguing game. Liverpool\u2019s gameplan \u2013 defend solidly in the first half, control the game in the second \u2013 was perfect, apart from one small detail: a winning goal.<\/p>\n Gabriel Jesus reacts after Gabriel (on ground) is unable to put direct his header into the goal. Photograph: Julian Finney\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.02 EST<\/p>\n 90+7 min Madueke wins a corner, Arsenal\u2019s first of the second half. There is added added time because of the Bradley injury time.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 90+5 min: Liverpool<\/a> substitution Bradley is stretchered off, hands over his face. Joe Gomez replaces him. Gary Neville has called Martinelli\u2019s actions \u201cdisgraceful\u2026 I don\u2019t know why a Liverpool player didn\u2019t just whack him and take a red card.\u201d<\/p>\n Liverpool’s Conor Bradley is stretchered off the pitch injured. Photograph: Ben Stansall\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.58 EST<\/p>\n 90+3 min Bradley collapses in pain after losing his footing when putting the ball out for a throw-in. Martinelli drops the ball on the prostate Bradley \u2013 I\u2019m not certain he meant to do it* – and then tries to push him off the pitch. The second part was deliberate, and it\u2019s bang out of order because Bradley was in obvious pain. It kicks off briefly and there are yellow cards for both Martinelli and Konate.<\/p>\n * Edit: having seen it again, it did look deliberate<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.17 EST<\/p>\n 90+2 min Jesus and Konate try to undress one another in the penalty area. To the distaste of the home crowd, the referee gives a free-kick to Liverpool<\/a>.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.50 EST<\/p>\n 90+2 min And there\u2019s another, a whipped shot from the left of the area by Martinelli after a lively run. Alisson falls to his left and holds on.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 90+1 min Four minutes of added time. Saliba\u2019s cross from a narrow position is headed towards goal by Jesus and held easily by Alisson.<\/p>\n It was a very tough chance for Jesus as he jumped backwards, but at least it\u2019s an attempt on target \u2013 Arsenal\u2019s first of the half.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.50 EST<\/p>\n 90 min Mac Allister is booked for a tactical foul.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 89 min A draw would leave Arsenal<\/a> six points clear with 17 games to play, still a very healthy lead given the vulnerability of their fellow title challengers. But most people \u2013 certainly this pri- writer \u2013 expected a bit of a statement victory tonight.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 88 min \u201cThe tension is palpable,\u201d writes Alan Baverstock. \u201cI am really palping the tension. I can definitely palp the tension. The tension is being palped.\u201d<\/p>\n We both know that entire email is palp fiction.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 87 min \u201cDare I say it or are Liverpool<\/a> outpassing Arsenal in this second half?\u201d asks Colum Fordham. \u201cSome very slick, tikitaka-like interchanges between Slot\u2019s players. Nice to see Szoboszlai playing further upfield where he is bossing play. Also impressed by Kerkez this evening who is closing down Saka very well.\u201d<\/p>\n You dare say it. Given the quality of opposition and their own issues, Liverpool\u2019s second-half performance has been quite outstanding.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 86 min Arsenal still haven\u2019t had an attempt at goal since half-time. In that context, a late winner would literally stink of symbolism.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 85 min Now one of the Liverpool<\/a> backroom staff has been booked, Sipke Hulshoff I think.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 84 min \u201cRe: Kari\u2019s 34min note of remembering joys of games played in torrential rain,\u201d begins Saffron Rainey. \u201cI was a student in Valladolid in 94. The Blancavioletas were bobbling at the base of La Liga when the great Barcelona team of Johan Cruyff rolled into town midweek in March. The heavens opened and the Jose Zorrilla was treated to an incredible performance from the Blaugrana winning 3-1. Stoichkov, Koeman, Guardiola, Romario and Michael Laudrup. Amavisca scored a good consolation goal. Everyone left the stadium soaked and smiling.\u201d<\/p>\n This video isn\u2019t the best but it gives a flavour of the conditions that day.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 83 min Mikel Arteta has been booked for repeatedly leaving his technical area. How strange that he should suddenly start doing that after all these years.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 82 min Szoboszlai is fouled 25 yards from goal by Gabriel Jesus. His second free-kick is much better, a dipping effort that brushes the top of the net. The leaping David Raya probably had it covered.<\/p>\n Dominik Szoboszlai whips a free-kick over the Arsenal wall \u2026 Photograph: Javier Garc\u00eda\/ShutterstockAnd over the bar. Photograph: Ben Stansall\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.54 EST<\/p>\n 80 min Zubimendu drives an outstandinbg long pass to Timber, who controls it on the chest and plays it quickly to Madueke. He beats Kerkez and plays an inviting ball across the face of goal. Alas for Arsenal<\/a>, all the other attackers were on their heels.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 78 min: Double substitution for Arsenal<\/a> Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze replace Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard. A year or two ago it would have been unthinkable that Arsenal would take off Saka and Odegaard while chasing a winner.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 77 min A low shot from Szobozslai on the edge of the area is blocked by Gabriel. Liverpool<\/a> have been brilliant in the second half and a winning goal wouldn\u2019t flatter them.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 76 min Frimpong runs Rice down the right and hits a cross that is headed away by Saliba. Szoboszlai collects on the edge of the area and splashes a half-volley into orbit. A very tough chance, even for him.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 75 min \u201cYour MBM correspondents have been wonderful tonight, far better than the 22 players on the pitch,\u201d writes Nick Parish. \u201cCharles Antaki is particularly masterful. I think he should be summonable on demand, like a genie or a Deliveroo order. We could have used him when Travis Head was smashing 634 not out off 11 balls, that\u2019s for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n How dare you bring up Perth 2025, on today of all days.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 75 min The decision to play Bradley and Frimpong on the right has worked really well for Liverpool; their greatest attacking threat has been down that side.<\/p>\n Liverpool’s Conor Bradley runs with the ball as he is closed down by Arsenal’s Gabriel. Photograph: Ian Walton\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.41 EST<\/p>\n 72 min In the second half Arsenal<\/a> have had 25 per cent possession and no attempts at goal. Crikey.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 70 min Saka is lucky not to be booked for a gratuitous hack at Kerkez.<\/p>\n Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka fouls Liverpool’s Milos Kerkez. Photograph: Ian Walton\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.38 EST<\/p>\n 68 min \u201c\u2018The low block\u2019 fits readily into our contemporary social habits of antagonism: it\u2019s just this thing,\u201d writes Dean Potter. \u201cA noun that is against us. We hate it! Whereas someone has to \u2018sit deep\u2019. A person, with feelings and a dog. Probably a useless c-word, to be sure, but a human being or eight.\u201d<\/p>\n I think this is already my favourite MBM email of 2026.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.29 EST<\/p>\n 67 min Martinelli runs towards a long pass from Odegaard and then goes over in the area after a little shove from Frimpong. It\u2019s checked and eventually cleared by VAR.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 65 min Frimpong scampers into the area from the right, with a chance to shoot across goal from a tightish angle. Instead he tries to tee up Wirtz and plays the ball behind him. That was a really good opening for Liverpool<\/a>.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 65 min: Double substitution The Gabriels, Jesus and Martinelli, come on for the ineffective Leando Trossard and the anonymous Viktor Gyokeres. Apparently he had only one touch in the second half.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 64 min \u201cHold on, son, are Arsenal<\/a> actually sitting back now?\u201d writes Ian Copestake. \u201c Am I Arteta? Am I made of Lego?\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 63 min After a good Liverpool<\/a> move, Szoboszlai pings a drive from 22 yards that is blocked by Gabriel.<\/p>\n Liverpool are the better team right now.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 62 min \u2026 but this time Szoboszlai wobbles the free-kick miles wide.<\/p>\n