Slot passes his first Arsenal derby as Salah scores an equalizer

Since the start of the season, Arsenal already played three tough games with the top five placed clubs from last season: Manchester City, Tottenham and Aston Villa. All games were away and the Gunners earned seven points in total from those matches. On the opposite side is Liverpool, whose new coach Arnie Slot became the most successful coach of the Reds in terms of points earned since he took over. Except from getting out the best from his squad, the Dutch tactician also had a lucky and easy schedule so far, so a trip to North London was his first real test, and he passed it quite successfully: Arsenal – Liverpool 2-2.

It was the game of two half where the first one was all Arsenal, while Liverpool, trailing at the break, finally woke up and put the heat in the second half which ended with a reward – Salah‘s equalizer which avoided the defeat. But it took two injured starting defenders from Arsenal to allow Slot‘s men to score the goal. Already depleted back line (Saliba and Calafiori were missing) took a huge hit during the game when first Gabriel and then Timber went out injured. It was Partney as the right back and a promising kid Lewis-Skelly one the left who had to deal with the likes of Diaz and Salah, and it was the Egyptian who won the battle in the 81st minute and scored an equalizer.

With tough games coming up in the next period (away trips to Newcastle, Inter Milan and Chelsea), the Gunners needed the win but now face themselves with five points below Manchester City in the title race with many injured players in defense whose return date is unavailable right now. Arne Slot made three changes from the team that saw off Chelsea last time out. Diogo Jota was injured so Nunez started, Luis Diaz was in for Cody Gakpo, while Alexis Mac Allister replaced Dominik Szoboszlai in midfield.

First half it was all Arsenal. Not only did the Gunners scored twice, but also kept the ball and pressured the guests almost all 45 minutes. The first goal came after just 10 minutes with a virtually first shot on goal. Ben White made a superb long pass to Saka, who tricked Robertson, and scored from close range. And then, also from their first shot, Liverpool equalized from a set-piece, something Arsenal mastered in the last season. Diaz first touched the ball with his head and laid it over to Van Dijk, who scored. But Arsenal just kept on pressing and finally got the second goal when Mikel Merino scored….from a set-piece. Rice's free kick came to the penalty area and the Spanish international was there to finish the job.

Second half was quite the opposite. Liverpool took the initiative and kept attacking during those 45 minutes, but basically failed to create a proper chance until the equalizer. Salah drew a save from Raya in the 53rd minute but that was basically it. It’s not known why the home team didn’t play aggressively like they did until then, but when both Gabriel and Timber went down with injuries, the defense became the subconscious tactics. Unfortunately for the Gunners, they failed and now face a tough task in the next few weeks.

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 9

Friday

Leicester - Nott.Forest 1-3 (1-1)

/Vardy 23 - Yates 16, Wood 47, 60/

Saturday

Aston Villa - Bournemouth 1-1 (0-0)

/Barkley 76 - Evanilson 90+6/

Brentford - Ipswich 4-3 (2-2)

/Wissa 44, Clarke 45+1 og, Mbeumo 51 pen, 90+6 - Szmodics 28, Hirst 31, Delap 86/

Brighton - Wolverhampton 2-2 (1-0)

/Welbeck 45, Ferguson 85 - Ait-Nouri 88, Cunha 90+3/

Man.City - Southampton 1-0 (1-0)

/Haaland 5/

Everton - Fulham 1-1 (0-0)

/Beto 90+4 - Iwobi 61/

Sunday

Chelsea - Newcastle 2-1 (1-1)

/Jackson 18, Palmer 47 - Isak 32/

Crystal Palace - Tottenham 1-0 (1-0)

/Mateta 31/

West Ham - Man.Utd. 2-1 (0-0)

/Summerville 74, Bowen 90+2 pen - Casemiro 81/

Arsenal - Liverpool 2-2 (2-1)

/Saka 9, Merino 43 - Van Dijk 18, Salah 81/