Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal: 3 talking points as questions raised over Gunners' discipline | OneFootball

Arsenal fought back from two goals down to claim a 2-2 draw against Liverpool in an entertaining Premier League clash at Anfield.

A fixture that pitted first against second in the standings had precious little riding on it due to the Reds having already clinched the title, and they looked set to continue the party when Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz carved out a two-goal half-time lead.

However, Arsenal showed great spirit in the second half, with goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Mikel Merino helping them claim a draw and salvage some pride before the latter scorer was sent off for a second yellow card.

How the game unfolded

It was, in fact, Arsenal who created the first chance of note, with Bukayo Saka breaking Liverpool's offside line with a run from deep on a set-piece, but the Englishman could only send an effort wide of the far post when given the freedom of the Kop-end box.

The hosts almost immediately punished that miss, Diaz forcing David Raya into an incredible point-blank save, but they did not have to wait long to get their noses in front.

The opener came courtesy of Gakpo, who headed home a delicious Andy Robertson cross from close range moments after fluffing a counter-attacking opportunity.

And less than two minutes later, Liverpool doubled their lead, Dominik Szoboszlai skipping in behind to tee up Diaz for an unmissable tap-in with an unselfish assist.

The Reds nearly made it three immediately after, with only another impressive Raya stop keeping out Curtis Jones' curling effort, and Arsenal then managed to restore some elemnt of control to see things through to half-time in relatively serene fashion.

That spell meant that the Gunners did not allow the game to completely get away from them, and the rewards for this approach were seen when they reduced the deficit straight after the restart.

Martinelli was the goalscorer, nodding in at the far post after Leandro Trossard had bent in a fine inswinging ross from the left-hand side. And Arsenal went on to completely control matters from there, pushing Liverpool back into their own box and creating a number of presentable opportunities.

The mood of the home crowd appeared to be further dampened by the introduction of Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose arrival was met with loud boos from fans hurt by his imminent departure to Real Madrid.

As such, it was no surprise when the Gunners levelled soon after, Merino stooping to nod home from close range after Martin Odegaard's long-range attempt had been pushed onto the post.

However, the visitors' chances were dealt a huge blow just nine minutes later as the goalscorer Merino received his marching orders for a second bookable offence after bringing down Szoboszlai outside the Arsenal box.

That gave Liverpool renewed vigour, but they were unable to capitalise on their numerical advantage, coming closest when Robertson turned home a corner with the final kick of the game only for the referee to rightly disallow the goal for a push by Ibrahima Konate.

Check out the player ratings from Liverpool vs Arsenal here.

Trent furore a needless distraction

Trent Alexander-Arnold is moving on / Carl Recine/GettyImages

With Liverpool having turned the final games of this season into preparations for the next, you wonder what the sense is in using Alexander-Arnold.

Yes, Conor Bradley's fitness has to be protected, but why not turn to Jarell Quansah at right-back in the event a change is needed?

This is not about being petty over Alexander-Arnold's imminent departure, but rather acknowledging that the boos only create a distraction that it would be fair to link the concession of a second goal to in this game.

Perhaps this experience will have given Slot food for thought.

Arsenal show they will be back

Arsenal are still a great team / PETER POWELL/GettyImages

Liverpool fans will well remember coming from two goals down to claim a 2-2 draw with a title-chasing Arsenal at the back end of the disastrous 2022/23 campaign, particularly as that result provided the foundations for their own challenge the following season.

And the Gunners will hope that something similar is in store for them after they showed incredible spirit in fighting back here.

Ultimately, Mikel Arteta's side have not been good enough this season, but they also showed in the second half that they are not quite as far from challenging again as detractors have made out. Liverpool, too, will now know that Arsenal look likely to be up there again when 2025/26 kicks off.

Is discipline an issue for Arteta?

Arsenal have had an excessive number of red cards / PETER POWELL/GettyImages

Arsenal fans have every reason to feel that, at times, they have been hampered by some wonky officiating this season.

But the fact is, there have been plenty of deserved sendings off among the Premier League-leading six red cards they have received over the course of this campaign.

And Merino's dismissal here, brought about by a second yellow card for a needless lunge at the edge of the area, was one of them.

At their best under Arteta, Arsenal are dominant becuase they are combative, but you wonder if that needs to be reined in at times so as not to leave open the possibility of going down a man.