Arsenal miss chance to pull clear after tense 0-0 with Liverpool | OneFootball

Arsenal 0-0 Liverpool: Tension, tactics and a missed chance in the Premier League title race

Arsenal let a golden opportunity slip at the Emirates as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Liverpool in a Premier League contest that simmered rather than boiled. The result kept Mikel Arteta’s side top of the table but denied them the chance to open up an eight point gap. For Liverpool, champions under Arne Slot, it was a point earned the hard way, shaped by resilience, tactical adjustment and a strong second half response.

This was a match that asked questions of both sides. Arsenal had the control early on, Liverpool finished stronger, and the final talking point came not from a goal but from a moment of needless edge that left a sour taste.

Photo: IMAGO

Title race opportunity Arsenal failed to seize

Arsenal started like a team aware of what was at stake. Their press was sharp, their possession assured, and Liverpool were penned in for long spells of the first half. The home crowd sensed this could be the afternoon where the league leaders tightened their grip on the Premier League race.

Yet control did not translate into incision. Arsenal moved the ball well in wide areas, they won territory, but they lacked presence in the box. Victor Gyokeres struggled to impose himself, touching the ball only eight times before being replaced on 64 minutes. In the second half he was almost anonymous, with just a single touch.

This ongoing question at centre forward refuses to go away. Gyokeres is not a high involvement striker by nature, but when the goals dry up, his overall influence comes under scrutiny. He has scored once in his last ten appearances since returning from injury, a penalty against Everton, and that lack of threat was evident here.

Arteta will also be reflecting on alternatives. Kai Havertz remains sidelined and missed out again, while Mikel Merino, previously trialled in a more advanced role, was stationed back in midfield. Arsenal have spread their goals across the team this season, which has carried them a long way, but matches like this underline how fine the margins can be at the top.

Photo: IMAGO

Flashpoint mars the closing moments

The defining image of the afternoon arrived late on and it was an ugly one. With the clock ticking down in added time, Conor Bradley went down near the touchline, clutching his knee and clearly in distress. Play was halted, but frustration boiled over.

Gabriel Martinelli dropped the ball onto the injured Bradley and then attempted to pull him off the pitch when the Liverpool defender shuffled to stay on it. The reaction was instant. Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister and Ibrahima Konate rushed in, pushing and shoving followed, and tempers flared.

Bradley was eventually stretchered off and taken down the tunnel, leaving Liverpool with fresh injury concerns. In a hard fought game, the actions of Martinelli did not represent a good ending. It was a moment that distracted from the football and handed Liverpool a moral edge as they walked away with a point.

Frimpong provides an outlet on the right

Liverpool arrived knowing they would have to suffer without the ball and strike on the counter. With Mohamed Salah, Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak unavailable, Slot turned to Jeremie Frimpong in an advanced right wing role.

It was a decision that made sense. Frimpong’s pace was Liverpool’s release valve, particularly in the first half when pressure was intense. He was repeatedly used as the out ball, stretching Arsenal’s back line and forcing them to retreat.

There were promising moments. His run caused confusion between William Saliba and David Raya, a sequence that ended with Bradley hitting the bar. Frimpong’s delivery, though, did not always match his movement, and there were times when his crosses found little support in the box due to Liverpool’s lack of recognised forwards.

Even so, on a night when Liverpool needed someone to relieve pressure and carry them up the pitch, Frimpong stepped up and offered a constant threat.

Photo: IMAGO

Second half control earns Liverpool a point

After 25 minutes, Liverpool looked overwhelmed. Florian Wirtz started as a false nine but the structure left them without a clear focal point. As Arsenal’s intensity dipped, the visitors found a foothold.

Wirtz began to drop deeper, drifting across midfield and linking play with Szoboszlai. Liverpool dominated possession after the break, helped by Arsenal sitting off and protecting the draw. Wirtz even had a case for a penalty after a strong challenge from Leandro Trossard following a neat dribble.

Liverpool’s attacking output remained limited, just 0.36 expected goals, their lowest of the season, but the shift in control mattered. By moving Wirtz away from an unfamiliar role, Slot restored balance and composure.

In the end, it was a point that felt more valuable to Liverpool than Arsenal. One side missed a chance to stretch clear, the other showed why they remain such awkward opponents. In a Premier League season where every detail counts, this goalless draw may yet carry weight.