Arsenal 0-0 Liverpool: Five Talking Points

Arsenal were left waiting for their first home league goal of the season as Liverpool maintained their unbeaten start after an entertaining goalless draw at Emirates Stadium. In a game that was full of mistakes and had plenty of chances, neither side were able to capitalise and deliver an early warning to the rest of the league. Instead, it was left to the two goalkeepers to save the day for their respective sides. Petr Cech delivered a Man of the Match performance and his save off Christian Benteke from point blank range showed that the former Chelsea keeper still has plenty left in his tank. An Aaron Ramsey goal was ruled out for offside while Liverpool hit the woodwork twice in a game that saw umpteen shots on goal.Here are the major talking points from the game.

#1 Misleading final score

Petr Cech made a number of crucial saves to deny Liverpool

How did this game finish nil-nil? That is certainly the question that many fans, players and pundits alike will be wondering after a game which saw 34 shots, some horrible defending and yet no goals. Neither manager is renowned for prioritising defence over attack and neither team have the players to play for a goalless draw. Yet after the opening minutes, there was a sense that the game might finish goalless.

For the first time since 1999, a game between these two sides, finished goalless. But, just because there were no goals doesn’t mean that this game was low on entertainment value.

There was some fantastic football, comical defending, fine goalkeeping and it was one of those games where everything happened, except a goal.

#2 Tale of two contrasting big men

Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud had a poor game against Liverpool

Aside from being big strikers with a decent goal scoring record, there isn’t much that Olivier Giroud and Christian Benteke have in common. And this game proved as the perfect example for that.

One of the reasons why Arsenal fans consistently moan about needing a world class striker is that, while Giroud has a lot going for him, the game bypasses him at times, especially if Arsenal aren’t able to make good use of possession. Although he had a couple of decent chances and should have had a penalty, it was Benteke who was the better striker on the day by a country mile.

And it is very easy to see why. While the Belgian striker is big and strong, one attribute of his, which often goes under the radar is his pace and willingness to run the channels. As Liverpool went long in search of Benteke, not only did he hold the ball, but his movement off the ball as well created problems for Arsenal’s centre-backs.

Benteke was a nuisance, didn’t give the defenders any time or space and the Frenchman can certainly learn a thing or two from his opposite number.

#3 Goalkeepers to the rescue

Simon Mignolet denied Arsenal a first home goal

The main reason why the game finished goalless despite both teams enjoying plenty of chances was the two goalkeepers. If Petr Cech was Arsenal’s saviour in the first half, then Simon Mignolet showed just why no goalkeeper in the league has kept more clean sheets than him in the year 2015.

Although Cech’s saves were undeniably better in quality, there is no denying the importance of Mignolet’s saves in the second half. Both keepers have come under scrutiny in the recent past; Cech for his disappointing debut against West Ham and the Belgian for his constant flapping at crosses.

But both sides were indebted to their keepers on a day when they ensured that an entertaining match, filled with plenty of drama and excitement, finished without a single goal being scored.

#4 Is 4-3-3 the way forward for Liverpool?

Will Lucas be a mainstay in Liverpool’s midfield?

With Mario Balotelli on his way out of the club and Daniel Sturridge still injured, Brendan Rodgers had little hesitation in continuing with Benteke up front. While that was hardly a surprise, the way the team lined up behind him, most certainly was.

Not only were they playing Lucas, someone who is on his way out, in central midfield alongside Emre Can and James Milner, but the presence of two Brazilians – Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino – on either flank was also interesting.

Despite failing to win the game, few can argue that this was the Reds’ best performance of the season. The main reason for that was the presence of Lucas in defensive midfield. The Brazilian’s presence freed Milner and Can to play as box-to-box midfielders without having to worry about their defensive duties.

But unless Rodgers makes a dramatic last-minute U-turn on Lucas, it looks as though this might be the last game in which this formation is used; which is a shame because the Reds looked a lot more threatening than they did in their previous two games despite not winning the game.

#5 Familiar problems for Arsene Wenger

Will Arsenal’s poor form in the first three games cause Arsene Wenger to invest in the transfer market?

One of the reasons why Arsenal fans are so quick to turn on their own team when they are not playing well is due to Arsene Wenger’s stubbornness to admit or correct the flaws in his side. While the signing of Cech this summer looking like a step in the right direction, the Gunners have failed to bring any more players since then. In a summer where all of the other title contenders have spent big, that is a worry.

Against Liverpool, although they were without their first choice centre-backs Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny, the way in which Calum Chambers played in the first half made you wonder why Wenger hasn’t signed a more experienced defender in case of injuries. In midfield, while Francis Coquelin was solid once again, question marks were once again raised about whether Santi Cazorla has the defensive awareness and strength to play as a central midfielder, especially in the big games.

Up front, Giroud was disappointing and far too easily marked by Liverpool’s centre-backs. Lack of cover in central defence, a holding midfielder and a striker aren’t new problems, but ones that have existed for the last few years. And the lack of a solution to those problems continues to cost Arsenal and drive fans mad.