Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has said his side learnt lessons from the result, after dropping crucial points against Liverpool in the title race.
Given the Gunners’ past record at Anfield, a point might have seemed positive on paper but the manner in which the game progressed on Sunday told a different story.
Arsenal led by two goals in the first half and seemed the distant best in the match but Liverpool turned the game on its head via goals from Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino late on. The Reds could have won the game if not for Salah’s missed penalty and several spectacular saves from Aaron Ramsdale.
Speaking after the game, Arteta admitted his side were punished for not maintaining their energy levels towards the end of the game.
Arsenal failed to be composed, says Arteta
“It was a super intense match,” he said, “probably an exceptional match to watch with two very different halves.
“In the first half, we were very dominating, very composed and very clear in how we wanted to attack them. We scored two beautiful goals and had the game controlled.
“Then at that moment, we had to do the exact same thing and kill the game. And at that moment just before half-time, we conceded a goal, and it gave them some momentum. Then in the second half, it was all about keeping composed and taking the game back to where we wanted it.
“We were incapable of doing that, we gave far too many simple balls away in far too many dangerous areas, giving them spaces to run into, and created this chaotic game that they are expectational at playing. That had the consequence to get the crowd back and get the atmosphere back in, and we suffered.”
“Now we have to deal with those situations with a lot of defensive moments, especially from Aaron and we were lucky not to concede a goal there. Then at the end we conceded a goal and we didn’t finish the game because we had three big, open situations to nick the victory and get away with that, but overall we have to take the point.”
He said he made that message clear to his team after the final whistle.
“It’s crystal clear – the lesson is play the way we played from the beginning. Regardless of the context and the result, we have to continue to do that way. Don’t go speculating about doing something different. This is our strength, it’s why we’ve won so many games, and this is how we’re going to win many more games from here to the end of the season.”
The draw puts Arsenal in a tight spot as the Gunners remain six points ahead of Manchester City though the reigning champions have a much better goal-difference as well as a game in hand, meaning Mikel Arteta’s men cannot afford any more slip-ups
“It’s always tough when you drop two points in the last five, six minutes,” Arteta added.
“It’s always difficult to take. But I said ‘let’s be fair guys, let’s be fair that what we did in the first half was exceptional and the second half could have cost us the game’. But we have to be realistic with that to try to play more like we did in the first half, and that’s it.”
