ARSENAL twice squandered the lead against Liverpool as they dropped two crucial points in the title race.
Bukayo Saka fired the Gunners into an early lead, tearing Andy Robertson apart before blasting past a helpless Caoimhin Kelleher.
Virgil van Dijk headed the Reds level before Mikel Merino put his new side back in front with an emphatic bullet header of his own.
But Mo Salah rescued a point for Arne Slot’s men on the counterattack with nine minutes left.
And the stats prove the 2-2 draw was a very fair result.
That is because both sides managed nine shots in the match – with Liverpool edging their attempts on target by four to three.
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Liverpool had 55 per cent of the ball with 16 tackles to Arsenal’s 17 and 14 fouls apiece.
Arsenal, however, will regret only managing one corner in the match.
Of course, Gunners players and fans alike were furious they did not get a second right at the end.
Gabriel Jesus clearly knocked the ball off Kostas Tsimikas, who desperately tried to kick it again before it went out of play knowing he had made the last touch.
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And given Arsenal’s propensity to score from set pieces, they were understandably apoplectic to see the controversial goal-kick decision.
By that time, though, star man Saka had been taken off.
The England winger was an injury doubt but worked hard to get fit – and his return to the starting XI was a welcome bonus for Mikel Arteta.
Saka managed 41 touches in his 85 minutes on the field and completed 15 of his 23 passes.
His two shots – one less than Salah – resulted in the opening goal and he drew two fouls from the men in black.
But Saka did his defensive work, too, succeeding with his one tackle and winning seven of his nine duels.
Interestingly, his heat map showed a similar pattern to team-mate Kai Havertz with much of their action down the right channel.
Saka – who celebrated with a cool shrug of his shoulders as he became the youngest Arsenal player to 50 Premier League goals – said: “I try to keep the keepers guessing.
“I think it was a nice finish, I haven’t seen it back yet but it felt nice.
“He has every record Thierry Henry so it’s nice but of course you wanna win the game but I have to be happy with this.
“Everything is Thierry Henry-ish. If you score it’s Thierry Henry, if you assist it’s Thierry Henry.
“I’m feeling good. I felt I could finish the game but the gaffer took me off.”
The average positions from both sides also made interesting reading.
Saka was the most reserved of the Gunners attackers, with Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli operating further forward.
Leandro Trossard and Merino virtually had the same spot in the left high No8 position alongside Declan Rice, who covered every blade of grass in a typically-industrial performance.
Arsenal’s makeshift back four was made up of Thomas Partey, Ben White, Gabriel and Jurrien Timber – who kept it narrow as an organised unit.
However, by the end of the game after two key injuries, the defence was even more unrecognisable as Partey and White were joined by Jakub Kiwior and youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly.
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For Liverpool, though, Salah was the furthest forward – and made the most of the Timber going off to exploit the weakened left side of the Arsenal back line, exposing the space to score the final goal.
Ryan Gravenberch was the deepest-lying midfielder, behind Alexis Mac Allister and Curtis Jones, who completed 41 of his 42 passes in midfield.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
