Online Reporter
ARSENAL wasted the chance to move eight points clear at the top of the English Premier League football table as Liverpool came to life in a 0-0 draw at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday night.
The Reds are one of only two sides to beat Mikel Arteta’s men this season and came closest to breaking the dead-lock when Conor Bradley hit the crossbar.
Arsenal failed to score for the first time at home all season but did enough to extend their advantage over second-placed Manchester City to six points.
Three consecutive draws for City over the past week had opened the door for Arsenal to close in on their first league title in 22 years.
The Emirates was bouncing before a ball was kicked in anticipation, but the spectacle between the defending champions and apparent champions elect fell flat.
Both sides struggled to deal with the treacherous conditions as Storm Goretti unleashed torrential rain and swirling winds.
Liverpool have long since fallen out of the title race since beating the Gunners at Anfield in August but are now 10 games unbeaten to consolidate their place in the top four.
The visitors were penned in for much of the first 45 minutes but still came closest to opening the scoring before the break.
William Saliba’s back pass nearly caught out David Raya and with the Spanish goalkeeper stranded, Conor Bradley’s lob came back off the underside of the crossbar.
The roles were reversed in the second period as Liverpool dominated possession and territory.
However, the Reds were shorn of three of their biggest attacking threats with Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike out injured and Mohamed Salah away at the Africa Cup of Nations.
That lack of fire-power in the final third showed as Arsenal were only ever troubled by the pace of Jeremie Frimpong, who lacked the final ball to make his dangerous bursts count.
Dominik Szoboszlai’s stunning free-kick separated the sides when the last met and nearly repeated the trick with a powerful effort that dipped just too late.
At the other end, Viktor Gyokeres was hauled off by Arteta after another poor performance as his goal drought from open play extended to 10 games.
Arteta had to turn to his wealth of options off the bench to try and turn the tide as Gabriel Jesus, Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze and Gabriel Martinelli were all introduced in the hunt for a winner.
But they took until stoppage time to register a shot on goal in the second-half as Jesus and Martinelli fired too close to Alisson Becker.
A point edges fourth-placed Liverpool three points clear of Newcastle and Manchester United in the battle for a place in next season’s Champions League.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot said their goalless draw with Arsenal in the Premier League on Thursday night under-lines the struggles they have had with teams deploying a low block this season.
Defending champions Liverpool failed to register a shot on target in a Premier League fixture for the first time since a match against Wigan Athletic in March 2010, bringing a run of 600 league games to an end.
Slot told Sky Sports their inability to break teams down had cost them all season.
“I’ve said 150 times already that against certain playing styles, we’re a very good team, and against certain playing styles we struggle,” he added.
“Maybe you could even see that — although people are now positive we kept the ball so long — but even against the low block of Arsenal, we struggled to create chances. So that is something we would like to do better.
“That’s one of the reasons we’re so many points behind them.”
Arsenal are six points clear of Manchester City and Aston Villa while Liverpool remain fourth, 14 points adrift de-spite a nine-game unbeaten run.
Liverpool’s shots-on-target average has dropped from 6.1 last season to just four this term, though Slot acknowledged his team had been up against a strong side in the league leaders.
“The only thing we missed from us, not for the first time, is the moments around the box,” he said.
“You’re hoping to create even more chances, but against an Arsenal team that has great momentum, to put a per-formance like this is something I’m very positive about.”
Liverpool’s next game is against Burnley on January 17 but before that they take on Barnsley in the third round of the FA Cup on Monday.
Arsenal still in a strong position — Arteta
Arteta said the Gunners have come out of a gruelling festive schedule in a stronger position despite the disappointment of being held 0-0 at home to Liverpool.
Arteta’s men dropped points for the first time since December 6 as five consecutive English Premier League foot-ball wins prior to Liverpool’s visit and the faltering form of Manchester City has opened up a six-point lead for Arsenal.
“Yes, every time you don’t win (it is a missed opportunity),” said Arteta. “I have to really praise the team for what they have done in this Christmas period.
“To come out of this period with all the issues we had the boys deserve all the credit.
“We are in a really strong position and we have to go again.”
Defending champions Liverpool remain 14 points behind the leaders but have not conceded a goal in two meetings with Arsenal this season.
Dominik Szoboszlai’s stunning free-kick separated the sides at Anfield back in August as both games have been short on big chances.
Arne Slot’s men are now unbeaten in 10 games, but five of those have been draws to leave them languishing fourth in the table.
The Liverpool boss was not surprised by his side’s ability to dominate possession in the second half against the leaders but was frustrated by a familiar lack of cutting edge in the final third.
“From all that ball possession you are hoping for more chance creation,” said Slot.
“This is who we are. We can dominate possession but we struggle in a few things.
“Set-pieces and then to find the right pass in the final third, we are still not at the level of some other teams.” — AFP Sport.
