WHAT price Ivan Toney? What price any striker with an eye for goal?
Because Arsenal’s season is in danger of sinking without trace after they squandered a hatful of chances before a Jakub Kiwior own goal and an injury-time Luis Diaz strike sentenced them to an FA Cup third-round exit.
Mikel Arteta’s side have now produced 48 attempts on goal in their last two home matches without scoring in either.
And Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was delighted to avoid a third-round replay and another trademark moan about fixture congestion as his side sneaked an undeserved win.
Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka were the worst culprits for wasteful Arsenal before Klopp’s side staged a strong finish to snatch victory.
But the Gunners have now mustered just one win, and five goals, in their last seven matches – a run which has left them five points adrift of Liverpool in fourth place in the Premier League.
Gabriel Jesus missed this with a knee injury but the Brazilian is no prolific striker.
So while Brentford insist Toney will only be sold for a ridiculous fee, it is worth Arsenal asking exactly how ridiculous they mean.
After failing to convert 30 chances in their 2-0 home defeat by West Ham, they were almost as profligate again here.
Liverpool, top of the league and facing Fulham in the Carabao Cup semi-finals, are still going for a quadruple this season – despite rarely touching the heights of their title-winning campaign four years ago.
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As well as Mo Salah and Wataru Endo, away on international duty, Klopp was without Virgil Van Dijk through illness.
In the absence of Jesus, Arteta moved Havertz to centre-forward and brought in Reiss Nelson and Jorginho, as well as Aaron Ramsale in goals.
Yet the line-ups still suggested these two title-chasing managers were taking the cup seriously enough.
Arsenal, wearing all white as part of their ‘No More Red’ anti-knife crime initiative, were almost in front in the third minute when Ramsdale’s long ball sent Nelson clean through but, after rounding Alisson, he shot into the side-netting.
Showing an impressive early response to their back-to-back league defeats, Arteta’s men began with verve and urgency.
Havertz was twice denied by Alisson in quick succession – at the back stick from a Saka corner then with a curling effort from the edge of the box.
When Joe Gomez was robbed by Saka and Havertz cut back, Martin Odegaard thumped a shot against the bar and the league leaders were rocking.
The Gunners couldn’t make their lighting start count, though, and Darwin Nunez – a striker who’d struggle to locate a cow’s backside with a banjo just now – headed a Harvey Elliott corner wide from close range.
Still apart from that it was all Arsenal, with Saka rediscovering his customary vigour, having looked fatigued of late.
Declan Rice won a strong tackle to dispossess Alexis Mac Allister high up the pitch but Havertz scuffed his shot horribly.
Next Ben White let rip with a fierce drive, which Alisson tipped over and from the resulting Saka corner, Havertz screwed a free header wide.
The German was having one of his infuriating days and soon shot meekly at Alisson after Nelson had won possession impressively.
After waves of Arsenal pressure, Liverpool skipper Trent Alexander-Arnold rocketed a shot against the bar as Klopp’s men finished a tough half on a high.
The visitors raised their game early in the second period and when Alexander-Arnold picked out Nunez, he drilled an angled shot narrowly wide.
After William Saliba’s crucial saving tackle denied Nunez, Mac Allister fouled Jorginho deep in the Liverpool half and Odegaard’s cute free-kick released Havertz, who chipped to the back post where an off-balance Saka volleyed over.
Alisson was soon forced to push away a Havertz cross which had taken a dangerous deflection but Saka made a hash of the rebound.
Arteta sent on Gabriel Martinelli for Nelson, as Klopp introduced Diogo Jota and Ryan Gravenberch.
Liverpool were still offering a threat on the counter but when Nunez and Luis Diaz were sent through two-on-one, the Uruguayan botched his pass to his unmarked Colombian team-mate.
Klopp then called for midfielder Bobby Clark – the teenage son of former Newcastle midfielder Lee – and Northern Ireland right-back Conor Bradley.
Ramsdale had to wait until the 77th minute before he was asked to make a save of note but he denied Diaz with a brilliant stop at the far post.
From the resulting corner, Jota headed against the bar and Nunez squandered another presentable chance.
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For the first time in the match, Liverpool were on top, and when Odegaard fouled Gravenberch on the left wing, Alexander-Arnold delivered a wicked free-kick which Kiwior headed beyond his own keeper.
And in the dying seconds, Liverpool broke swiftly and, with the Gunners defence stretched, Jota fed Diaz who lashed into the roof of the net.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
