Overview
- The goalless draw at the Emirates leaves Arsenal six points clear at the top, after failing to turn midweek slips by Manchester City and Aston Villa into an eight-point cushion.
- Arne Slot crowded midfield and effectively went without a striker, limiting Arsenal to an expected goals figure of 0.57 and no shots on target in the second half.
- Short of forwards with Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak sidelined and Mohamed Salah absent, Liverpool used Florian Wirtz as a false nine and recorded no shot on target for the first time in 15 years in the league, yet have kept Arsenal scoreless in both meetings this season.
- Arsenal’s ongoing cutting-edge issues resurfaced as Viktor Gyokeres had just eight touches before being replaced, reinforcing questions over the center-forward role.
- A late flashpoint saw Gabriel Martinelli booked after shoving the injured Conor Bradley off the pitch, with Bradley stretchered off, while an earlier Saliba–Raya mix-up led to Bradley hitting the crossbar.