Liverpool vs. Arsenal: Winners and Losers from Premier League
Liverpool completed a last-gasp comeback thanks to a Joe Allen volley to draw 3-3 with Arsenal at Anfield on Wednesday evening.
The Reds went ahead through Roberto Firmino twice, each time being pegged back by an opportunistic Gunners goal, then finally fell behind as Olivier Giroud fired a sweet strike into the corner. It took all of their effort to find a late equaliser, and it was substitute Allen who provided it, smashing home after a Christian Benteke knockdown.
Here, B/R picks its winners and losers from the game.
Winner: Roberto Firmino, Liverpool
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"[We] saw again how to get the best out of Roberto Firmino at times tonight. [Adam] Lallana’s runs beyond and Firmino finding space—that dovetailing is key," B/R's Karl Matchett tweeted after the game.
It wasn't just Firmino's two goals that stood out, but his movement and link play too. As Matchett notes, he would drop in and encourage Lallana and Co. to overlap, allowing him to find space, turn, pick a pass and begin direct attacks at pace.
When Christian Benteke came on, Liverpool began playing to his strengths, and Firmino faded predictably, but there were 70 minutes of "that's how to use Firmino" in there for anyone looking hard enough. Hopefully, manager Jurgen Klopp was.
Loser: Simon Mignolet, Liverpool
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Simon Mignolet put in yet another unconvincing display on Wednesday evening, and it’s arguable he could have done a lot better for both of Arsenal’s first-half goals.
Aaron Ramsey’s early strike beat him at his near post, and although the midfielder must be commended for squeezing his shot into such a tight spot, goalkeepers should never be beaten in that area. For Olivier Giroud’s poked effort, Anfield watched on with a distraught demeanour as the Belgian let the ball in through his own legs.
Per the Telegraph, Danny Ward has been recalled from his loan at Aberdeen to compete for a spot in goal. The move was made after Adam Bogdan underwhelmed once again in the cup, but with Mignolet’s bizarre errors continuing, he may be under pressure too.
The revelation that he is to be offered a new contract, purported by Sky Sports, is difficult to understand.
Winner: Olivier Giroud, Arsenal
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Despite the horrendous miss, Olivier Giroud lands himself a place in the winner’s column. His impact over the course of the game cannot be ignored.
He missed from just a few yards, failing to convert Joel Campbell’s cross and somehow kicked the ball behind him and into Simon Mignolet’s arms while blowing the chance to put Arsenal ahead in the first half. They’d have to wait until shortly after the break for the Frenchman to make amends with a swivel-and-shot, adding to his opportunistic first.
His aerial game was on point, troubling Mamadou Sakho in the air and giving Kolo Toure the runaround. He’s burly, strong but also deft and neat. He’s playing with a point to prove, and he’s certainly getting it across.
Loser: The Art of Defending
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This game will be remembered for many reasons—high-pressing, wonderful goals and absorbing interplay—but a facet it cannot boast is quality defending. What we saw at times was so bad it would give League One and League Two a run for their money.
Arsenal were at sixes and sevens at the back early on, with even Petr Cech coming under the microscope after parrying Emre Can’s shot straight to Roberto Firmino, gifting Liverpool the opener. Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker enjoyed some good spells but were also completely diced up at times as the Reds moved through the gears.
Simon Mignolet’s exploits have already been covered, and his unreliability breeds uncertainty in the Liverpool line. Mamadou Sakho and Kolo Toure were taught a lesson in the air by Olivier Giroud, while Alberto Moreno had some horror moments too.
All in all, it was a night for attacking delights, but no coach should ever show this match to those learning the defensive trade—unless they’re attempting to show how not to do it.
Winner: Spectators
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The first half was, unequivocally, the best 45 minutes of Premier League football this writer has seen this season. That admission will ring true with many other fans of the game too.
As a spectacle, this match had everything: errors, golazos, defensive collapses, goalkeeper howlers and touchline animations. The game absolutely flew by; it’s the sort you’d watch back again immediately without hesitation.
Contests between sides of Liverpool and Arsenal’s ilk can sometimes be cagey, dour affairs, but these two sides in particular tend to set sparks flying at Anfield. We remember Andrey Arshavin's four goals in this fixture, we remember Laurent Koscielny and Joe Cole getting sent off on their debuts, and you'll remember the highlights from this one too.
Jurgen Klopp and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger served up a treat.
