Mohamed Salah’s late second-half goal secured a dramatic 2-2 draw between Arsenal and Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium in an intense Premier League clash.
Arsenal initially took control of the game when Bukayo Saka, returning to the starting lineup, netted a powerful shot past Liverpool’s goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, giving the Gunners an early advantage.
However, Liverpool managed to respond with an equalizer as Virgil van Dijk found the net with a well-placed header from a set piece.
The hosts regained their lead just before halftime, with Mikel Merino scoring in his first Premier League home start.
Merino’s header, directed in from a free-kick, put Arsenal ahead again, and they entered the break with a one-goal lead.
Unfortunately for Arsenal, injuries to Gabriel and Jurrien Timber in the second half forced them to adopt a more defensive approach.
As a result, Liverpool began to gain momentum, ultimately capitalizing on Arsenal’s defensive stance in the 81st minute.
Mohamed Salah seized this opportunity, calmly slipping the ball past Arsenal’s goalkeeper, David Raya, to equalize for Liverpool. This goal preserved manager Arne Slot’s undefeated away record in the Premier League.
Following the game, Bukayo Saka shared his thoughts in an interview with Sky Sports, expressing a sense of frustration: “We’re a bit disappointed.
Credit to Liverpool; they are a top side, but we feel that we didn’t bring our best for the entire 90 minutes.”
Reflecting on the first half, Saka said Arsenal had shown their quality, controlled much of the play, and effectively limited Liverpool’s opportunities.
He noted that Liverpool’s only real chance came from a set piece that led to van Dijk’s equalizer, as the visitors hadn’t created many other significant scoring opportunities.
However, in the second half, Saka observed that Arsenal had started to sit back and lose some of their intensity, allowing Liverpool to take control.
“They gained momentum, won more challenges, and held possession, which naturally shifted the game in their favor, leaving us to defend more than we would have liked,” he explained.
When asked about Gabriel’s injury, Saka acknowledged it had impacted the team, but he refused to use it as an excuse for the draw:“He’s an important player for us, but no matter who’s on the field, we have to adapt and do our best.”
Discussing his goal, Saka mentioned his determination to return to the pitch after missing previous games: “I hate sitting out, and watching from the sidelines was frustrating. I’d been aiming to come back for this match and did everything to make sure I was ready.
When I’m in front of goal, I try to keep the keepers guessing. I haven’t seen a replay, but it felt like a solid finish.”
Arsenal’s draw with Liverpool highlights both teams’ strengths and weaknesses as they continue their Premier League campaigns.
For Arsenal, securing a point was crucial, but their inability to maintain control in the second half will be a key takeaway as they look to refine their strategy and keep key players healthy moving forward.
