Liverpool are the latest top six side to have been stifled by Arsenal in the Premier League. Since the start of last season, none of the traditional big six sides in the league have won against Mikel Arteta’s men.
The gunners bounced back from the defeat to Bournemouth last weekend in Sundays game. Bukayo Saka opened the scoring in the first 15 minutes with a lovely finish, before Virgil Van Dijk equalized later. Mikel Merino scored from a well rehearsed free kick before halftime to make it 2-1.
It took a late goal from Mo Salah to share the points. After the game, Bukayo Saka said Arsenal deserved more from the match.
“We’re disappointed. I feel like we didn’t show our best selves for 90 minutes and it cost us in the end. We believe we should have won it.”
Van Dijk proud of Liverpool draw
Arsenal v Liverpool 27 October 2024, London – Premier League Football – Arsenal v Liverpool – Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool scores their 1st goal – Photo: Charlotte Wilson / Offside. London UK *** Arsenal gegen Liverpool 27. Oktober 2024, London Premier League Fußball Arsenal gegen Liverpool Virgil van Dijk von Liverpool schießt das 1. Tor Foto Charlotte Wilson Abseits London UK PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xCharlottexWilsonx/xOffsidexOffside
In a game that could easily have gone against the Reds, Liverpool captain Virgil Van Dijk believes the draw was a very good result for the team:
“It’s a very tough place to come, obviously teams have noticed that over the years. They created a solid team and make it difficult for everyone.
“Obviously it was difficult for them as well. I think to come back twice is a good thing. We take the point and we move [forward], that’s the feeling now.”
He added: “You play here in London, they have the fans behind [them], they created some momentum of course, scoring the 2-1.”
Van Dijk scored the equalizer to make it 1-1 early in the first half. The defender was pleased that his team did not drop more points on the night after how the game ended.
“You have to be ready to fight, and that was the message anyway before the game because we will have difficult moments, tough moments. Like I said, one point, we take it and we move now to the Carabao Cup.”
Club captain admits the Reds were under pressure at the Emirates
Arsenal had a very dominant first half and went into half time with the lead. The gunners could have had even more goals if they took their chances. Mikel Arteta’s men did not play like an underdog, like BBC pundit Nedum Onuoha suggested.
Van Dijk describes how hard it was to keep Arsenal at bay in the first 45 minutes:
“That was problematic, in my opinion, in the first half. We couldn’t keep the ball longer than five times. Obviously it was a good press from them but I think if we kept the ball longer we could have created a little bit more momentum.”
