Another Steal Against a Top Team?
Just as the previous fixture between these teams we’ve been pinned back the majority of the game so far. Liverpool have had chances but can’t make them count. As with so many of goals these days, we beat the press to break and get the goal. Although, this one hasn’t quite got the smooth flowing movements and sweeping passes of goals gone by.
Arsenal collect the ball after a huge clearance from Alison. They play it into their own 18 yard box and begin the exercise, like we’ve seen so many times before. Centre-backs and goalkeeper play keep ball, defensive midfielder gets involved, full-back plays a line ball, somebody switches it and Auba scores. But it’s not quite the same. It’s a bit scruffier. By the time the ball gets to Lacazette, he sort of stumbles into it to knock it to AMN wide on the left. He cuts inside and tries to cross back to Laca, but the players are on different wavelengths and it’s straight to Robinson. The dislikable Scotsman scruffs his clearance and sends the ball back into Laca’s path. The striker is five yards out with only the keeper to beat. He swings a leg at it and clips it with his studs. It’s enough to wrong-foot Alisson in goal and bounce into the net.
Tonight’s Pantomime Villain
Unfortunately, our lead hasn’t lasted long. Three minutes later and the team that should be down to ten men pull level. Mane got away with an intentional, and fairly obvious, elbow early in the match. Seeing him on the pitch brings a bad taste into your mouth. It’s sickening to concede so quickly after taking the lead and 100 times worse to see him be the scorer.
Liverpool take the ball after an offside decision against Lacazette. They play the ball around and down their right flank to Salah. He drives past Tierney and cuts inside to shoot. Leno saves the shot but only parries the ball to the grateful Mane who can prod the ball into an empty net.
The Predictable Disappointment
Arsenal are under the cosh here. It’s like attack vs defence and almost entirely in our half. While beating the press might be the game plan, it’s felt unlikely we can stay in the tie. For the second time tonight Liverpool have found themselves with a man over on their far-left side.
Liverpool continuously play the ball across their back line looking for an opening before finding their chance and hitting a long ball out to their right. They push forward before laying the ball back to Trent, who again hits a diagonal cross into the box. It takes a deflection and finds its way to Robinson, alone at the far post. He controls it and dinks the ball over an on-rushing Leno.
A Final Kick in the Teeth
Arsenal have been much improved at the start to the second half. We seem more territorially ambitious. Less content to sit in our own box. We’ve had far more touches and passes in the attacking third. Lacazette had a good chance to pull us level but couldn’t make it count, and Liverpool punish us in the 88th minute.
Holding heads clear a corner which straight to a Liverpool player. He plays the ball to Salah who collects it at the by line just wide of the 18 yard box. Ceballos forces the Egyptian to lay the ball back to Trent. The full-back hits a first time cross deep into the box, but it’s to no-one in particular and Luiz clears it comfortably. Unfortunately, it’s straight to Jota, and the ball bounces up his chest and arm before he kicks it into the bottom corner from inside the box.
Refs Love Liverpool
The refereeing and VARing has been a bit bizarre tonight. We saw Mane raise his elbow and step into Tierney, which is a clear red. So most people were waiting for VAR to intervene and send the Liverpool man off. We’ve also just spent the week being shown clips of unintentional hand ball being given as penalties. Only to watch the Jota control the ball with his arm for their third goal.
A barge from Fabinho was ignored while only seconds later Bellerin gets booked for an admittedly firmer block. The ref stopped play when Arsenal had the advantage with Pepe running up the pitch. Bellerin’s apparent foul throws. It seemed he was penalised twice for illegal throw-ons. Without a decent re-play or different angle it’s difficult to tell who was in the right here, but it’s hard to believe a player that’s taken throw-ons his entire career would suddenly have a meltdown. Either way, someone should be receiving a week’s wages fine tomorrow morning.
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