Arsenal missed the opportunity to open an eight-point gap at the top of the Premier League after playing out a goalless draw with defending champions Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday night.
The hosts controlled much of the first half but were almost punished when Liverpool right-back Conor Bradley struck the crossbar after a defensive mix-up between William Saliba and goalkeeper David Raya. Despite their dominance, Arsenal struggled to turn possession into clear chances.
Liverpool, missing a recognised centre-forward due to Hugo Ekitike’s injury, showed improvement after the interval but failed to carve out meaningful opportunities. A brief VAR check dismissed appeals for a penalty after Florian Wirtz went down under a challenge from Leandro Trossard.
As the match entered its closing stages, Dominik Szoboszlai threatened from distance, narrowly missing the target, but neither side found a breakthrough. Tensions flared in stoppage time when Bradley was stretchered off following a challenge from Gabriel Martinelli, sparking a heated exchange between players.
The draw leaves Arsenal six points clear of Manchester City and Aston Villa at the top of the table. While Mikel Arteta’s side remain firmly in control of the title race, the result felt like a missed chance to capitalise on City’s recent slip.
Liverpool, meanwhile, will take encouragement from their defensive solidity but concerns remain over their lack of cutting edge. With key attackers sidelined, Arne Slot faces the challenge of restoring balance between defence and attack as the season progresses.
