How Twitter Reacted to Arsenal's Frenetic Goalless Draw with Liverpool

Liverpool went into Monday night's rain-soaked game at the Emirates knowing they had only beaten Arsenal once in north London in the league since February 2000. Accordingly, before kick-off, there were some fans on Twitter who were extremely confident of an Arsenal win:

"

If liverpool beat arsenal tonight i will shave my head, no messing..

— Reidy (@jayrad1996) August 24, 2015"

This fan was also gunning for an Arsenal victory, although his prediction was never likely to fully pan out:

"

My prediction: Arsenal 2-1 Liverpool Benzema with two goals on his debut

— Mert Carbià (@BallCirculation) August 24, 2015"

Despite the confidence of the fans, Arsenal started the game without Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny in the heart of defence, with injury forcing a centre-back pairing of Calum Chambers and Gabriel instead. This unfamiliar back line offered a huge glimmer of hope for the visitors and the potential for myriad defending snafus:

"

Chambers and Gabriel in Arsenal's defence And people have the nerve to have a go at United's defence

— Matthew (@carrick_fan) August 24, 2015"

One man who wasn't going to penetrate that defence, however, was Mario Balotelli. The troubled Italian has reportedly agreed a return to Milan (as per the BBC), a move that didn't seem to upset the Anfield faithful:

"

So glad we're selling balotelli, never wanted him

— Shane Marshall (@ShaneMarshaall) August 24, 2015"

As the game kicked off, Gary Neville was the top Twitter trend in the UK thanks to yet another enthusiastic performance on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football. The former Manchester United man pulled no punches discussing the hosts:

"

After listening to Gary Neville on #MNF. pic.twitter.com/OA1NTCzQVo

— Soccer St. (@SoccerSt_) August 24, 2015"

"

Gary Neville is the yoda of football, knows his stuff

— Ryan McLaughlin (@RyanMcL2) August 24, 2015"

Within the first 10 minutes of end-to-end action, Arsenal came close to taking the lead when Aaron Ramsey picked up a beautiful pass from Santi Cazorla and put the ball in the back of the net. However, it was ruled offside, even though Martin Skrtel appeared to be playing the Welshman on. Gunners fans were not amused:

"

Ramsey seemed to be onside! https://t.co/zmrec8TDTh

— Football Funnys (@FootballFunnys) August 24, 2015"

Regardless of the decision, there was a lot of love for Cazorla and his assist:

"

WHAT a pass from Cazorla

— Tom Adams (@tomEurosport) August 24, 2015"

In the first half-hour, Arsenal's makeshift defence struggled to maintain composure, with Chambers coming in for a heavy helping of online criticism:

"

This Chambers is all over the show 

— Cameron (@Camoo_EU) August 24, 2015"

As the game approached half-time, few positives could be drawn from Arsenal's defending:

Late in the first half, Christian Benteke had a chance to put the visitors ahead, but he was denied in a one-on-one situation with Petr Cech. The Czech shot-stopper was praised for his actions:

Cech came in for more Twitter praise a few minutes later, when his fingertip save pushed a Philippe Coutinho effort onto the bar:

"

That's an unbelievable save by Cech again from Coutinho #ARSLIV

— Luke Chambers (@chambo04) August 24, 2015"

"

Petr Cech be like pic.twitter.com/2JUJn4wkkx

— Ale Padín (@alepadin) August 24, 2015"

Somehow, despite some questionable defending at both ends and plenty of action, the game went into half-time goalless:

"

What a game, so open. Hope we can get the win #ARSLIV #LiverpoolWin

— Ed (@EdSimpson21) August 24, 2015"

"

Great first half #ARSLIV . There's got to be goals in the 2nd half . Well I'm enjoying it

— Craig Mckenzie (@CraigmckCraig) August 24, 2015"

Some wondered how the Gunners would deal with a certain Brazilian in the second half:

"

Coutinho vs Bellerin. https://t.co/kFDODVco9P

— Seleção Brasileira (@BrazilStats) August 24, 2015"

Arsene Wenger's team talk must have been effective, however, as the home side were much improved in the second period: 

Liverpool certainly saw a lot less of the ball as the game progressed:

Around 15 minutes from time, Brendan Rodgers brought on 18-year-old Gerrard-in-the-making Jordan Rossiter to make his Premier League debut. The reaction was a mixture of disbelief at his youthful appearance and doubt over his use:

Ultimately, the second half failed to live up to the frenzied first period, but it finished as one of the better goalless draws in recent memory:

In light of Ramsey's disallowed goal, Liverpool may have felt better about the point than the hosts. The Reds had plenty of reason to be happy with their start to the season, particularly in terms of the fortitude of their notoriously leaky defence:

"

Liverpool have yet to concede a goal this season. #LFC pic.twitter.com/JOridUFu1n

— Footy Jokes (@Footy_Jokes) August 24, 2015"

"

Unbeaten and another clean sheet. #LFC #AFCvLFC pic.twitter.com/NsT1NcDZxy

— Stuart Cox (@scox21) August 24, 2015"

Let's finish this round-up of the game with this wonderful training montage footage and say no more: