Ahead of his definition, the fight for the Premier League title comes to a head after an agonizing game at Anfield in which Arsenal took a two-goal lead and were considered to be in good shape after the last draw (2-2). Coach Mikel Arteta’s side, who are now six points clear of Manchester City, who beat Southampton (1-4) on Saturday, have narrowed that lead and have one game to play, nine in all. One of these duels is the one that will face both candidates on the 26th with Pep Guardiola’s team hosting.
Arsenal have chastity and football, but in Liverpool they found a rival as injured as they were proud. With 29 points from the top of the table and 12 from the Champions League places, Liverpool are trying to minimize the damage as they rebuild. Various vicissitudes explain his breakdown, but they all boil down to one consequence: the team is unable to uncover its runaway and fast-paced DNA for 90 minutes. He started sluggishly against Arsenal, giving up two goals and getting activated in the closing stages of the first half. Then it was a roller. Without the punch of his prime, but with the ability to subdue the championship’s best team.
Liverpool is a level test for Arsenal, who signed one of the most epic pages in their history there, a league title in 1989 with a goal on the hour from Michael Thomas, made iconic by the narration of Fever Pitch, Nick Hornby’s Fever in the Stands . But fame aside, Anfield is an ordeal for Arsenal, who have not won there since September 2012. Then Arteta positioned himself in midfield and the goals were the work of Podolski and Santi Cazorla. Those of Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus seemed to be on the same level half an hour ago in the game. But then Liverpool came into play.
Salah equalized just before half-time with a goal scored as the stadium was on fire. No sooner had he returned from the break than a mistake by Holding, coming on for the injured Saliba, saw a penalty missed by the Egyptian left-hander. But everything had already been solved. The local siege resulted in Arsenal defending lower than they had in the entire Championship.
With no chance of finding exits, Arteta eventually removed Gabriel Jesus and Odegaard from the field to set up a back five with inexperienced Polish centre-back Kiwior, signed from modest Italian Spezia in January. Firmino equalized in the 87th minute and opened a frantic finish in which Arsenal missed a good passer who would take advantage of the large lands left by Liverpool’s ambition. The local team, greedy for victory, ran into a wall with Ramsdale, a prodigy among sticks, leaving memorable interventions in their wake, notably two against Salah and a final stretch down the goal line to deny Konaté victory.
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