Premier League title hopefuls Arsenal and Liverpool shared the spoils in a dramatic 2-2 draw at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday late afternoon.
The Gunners were out to recover ground on Arne Slot’s pre-rounds leaders and win back-to-back league games against the Reds for the first time since 2012 following a 3-1 triumph in this fixture in February.
Talisman
Bukayo Saka faced a race against time to make himself available for selection after missing out on midweek UEFA Champions League action due to a minor fitness problem.
Marred by injuries and suspensions, Arsenal desperately needed their homegrown winger fit, and he answered the goal.
He opened the scoring in the ninth minute with a delightful finish after making light work of Andy Robertson to put Mikel Arteta’s makeshift line-up in front.
In doing so, Saka became the youngest Gunners player to score 50 Premier League goals, achieving this flattering milestone at 23 years and 52 days old.
The England international shattered Thierry Henry’s record set in
The French icon hit half a century when he was 24 years and 128 days old en route to becoming the club’s all-time top goalscorer with 228 goals.
Saka not only beat Henry’s landmark but also recorded his tenth goal contribution in the Premier League this term.
With three goals and seven assists from only eight league appearances, Saka needed the fewest games to reach 10+ in a single campaign since Cesc Fabregas in 2009/10.
Only ten minutes later, Luis Diaz flicked the ball to the back post from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s corner-kick delivery, with Virgil van Dijk latching on to it for his first goal this season.
Arsenal struggled to defend set-pieces against Bournemouth last weekend, as one corner-kick situation led to Ryan Christie breaking the deadlock at the Vitality Stadium.
However, they regained the lead late in the first half as summer signing Mikel Merino stayed narrowly on side to head home an inch-perfect cross from Declan Rice.
Merino’s header marked Arsenal’s competition-high 27th goal from set-pieces in the Premier League since the start of last season.
Arteta’s team ran out of steam in the second half, and it was barely surprising, considering they applied an intense high press for most of the opening 45 minutes.
When it looked like Liverpool couldn’t take advantage of Arsenal’s tired legs, Darwin Nunez ghosted behind the lines and kept his composure to tie up Mohamed Salah for the 81st-minute equaliser.
