Three things we learnt from Liverpool's thrilling 4-3 victory at Arsenal
The Premier League was back with a bang this weekend, and at no place was that more evident than the Emirates as Liverpool and Arsenal fought out a nail biting encounter, with Liverpool coming away the victors with a 4-3 victory thanks to goals from Philippe Coutinho, Sadio Mané and Adam Lallana.
The Gunners took the lead just moments after missing a penalty, but Coutinho’s superb free-kick just before half time drew the scores level. Liverpool came flying out of the starting blocks after the break and rapidly gained a three goal lead.
Arsenal sparked a comeback, but their efforts were not enough to earn any points as they laboured against a Liverpool side full of attacking flair which continued to threaten late into the game.
With two of the league’s biggest sides facing up so early in the season, here is what we learnt from the game…
1) Arsenal couldn’t be any more Arsenal
Never has one match typified the Arsenal of recent years more. A sensational start, a disappointing and costly middle, and then recovering towards the end to save embarrassment. Remind you of any of the past few seasons for the Gunners?
As Arsenal mounted their late comeback, their side was crying out for fresh legs and a new attacking threat with long balls up to Alexis Sanchez far from utilising his best attributes, but with two substitutes used up on injuries to Aaron Ramsey and Alex Iwobi, the only striker on the bench, Chuba Akpom, failed to get on and there was a frustrating end to the game as Arsenal got the ball forward to find a blunt attack.
As frustrating as it was for Arsenal fans at the Emirates, this kind of game is the type of game they have to win to mount any kind of title challenge. Yes, they missed Ozil, Giroud, Koscielny and many through injury, but Liverpool will be fighting for a place at the top of the table too, and are one of the sides most likely to knock them out of their regular Champions League place. A home defeat to Liverpool is a bitter blow on the opening day of the season.
