Three things we learned from Arsenal draw as Viktor Gyokeres questions grow and emotions get better of Gunners | OneFootball

Arsenal miss chance to extend lead at top of the Premier League table as summer signing has another off night

Miserable conditions in north London and a game to match it.

Arsenal did not face a shot on target against Liverpool but offered precious little in attack themselves, particularly in the second half.

Gabriel had a moment to win it with the final kick, or rather the final header as he rose at the back post from a corner. For once, he fluffed his lines.

Arsenal waste chance at the top

The stage was set for Arsenal to take real control of the title race.

Manchester City and Aston Villa both drew on Wednesday night and it meant victory would have moved the Gunners eight points clear at the top.

Was a goalless draw a decent point or a missed opportunity? It felt like much more of the latter.

Arsenal barely laid a glove on Liverpool in an incredibly tame second half which increasingly descended into long-distance shooting practice for Dominik Szoboszlai.

Frustration: Arsenal

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This game should have been there for the taking for Arsenal against a struggling Liverpool side.

Mikel Arteta had the likes of Gabriel Jesus, Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke to call on from the bench. Liverpool did not make a change until stoppage time, one that was injury-enforced and that felt telling.

With a much stronger squad and the team in a much more positive place than their opponents, Arsenal failed to take the initiative.

Emotions get the better of Gunners

It was a raucous atmosphere ahead of kick-off at the Emirates with a pre-match display involving all of the home fans.

Emotions were high and by the final whistle that was not in Arsenal's favour.

The second half was a mess from an Arsenal perspective. They were pinned back for long periods by Liverpool and when they did get the ball, rushed passes went astray or out of play.

When Declan Rice fizzed one into touch, Arteta called for calm but there was little of that.

The Arsenal vs Liverpool fixture did not live up to the pre-match show

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The Arsenal supporters became increasingly frustrated, letting out a cry on the hour mark after a succession of frantic clearances gifted Liverpool sustained possession.

The structure, particularly in midfield, fell apart and Arsenal were reduced to relying on moments of magic out wide. With 17 matches to go in the title race, Arsenal have to keep cooler heads than this.

Gyokeres questions grow

It is still not really happening for Viktor Gyokeres in an Arsenal shirt, to put it mildly.

The striker would be a decent option to start certain matches and come off the bench in others, but there has been little evidence to justify him starting as often as he has been.

Gyokeres has not scored from open play since the start of November and he did not get close to ending that wait here.

Viktor Gyokeres was ineffective against Liverpool

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Five or six times Arsenal got in down their right in the first half and either stood up a cross to the back post or cut the ball back towards the penalty spot.

On each occasion, Gyokeres was not even particularly close to being on the scene to provide the finish. He is so often a passenger in the areas he should thrive in.

Gyokeres was replaced just after the hour mark and the time for either Gabriel Jesus or Mikel Merino to start leading the line cannot be far away.