The Barclays Premier League welcomed their first big game at Anfield as the Arsenal took on Liverpool. Liverpool would have a lot to proveafter a dismal end towards the last season. Under new manager Roy Hogdson and with new signings, Liverpool would want to make an early impact in the table and get back to at least the top 4 at the end of this season.The Final Score...
The Arsenal started with a flexible 4-5-1 formation, with Eboue playing wide on the ride and Arshavin cutting inside from the left flank. Liverpool manager Roy Hogdson though used a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Joe Cole playing the supporting role behind their main striker N'Gog. World Cup finalists for both clubs, van Persie and Torres, were on the bench respectively.
First Half
In an intense battle between two members of the traditional Big 4, the Arsenal have started the better against their opponents. The Gunners moved the ball quicker in the midfield area in particular, but the same old mistakes and weaknesses of the North London club were still pretty evident. Liverpool, on the other hand, played with more passion and greater work rate as always at Anfield. However, both sides failed to carve out a very clear chance. Having said that, the moment of madness came when Cole made an awful last ditch tackle on Arsenal debutant, Koscielny and was red-carded immediately by the referee.
Second Half
Hence, the home side were forced to begin the second half with 10 men, but showed a greater desire and commitment than the Arsenal. On a number of occasions in the opening minutes of the second half, the Arsenal were in nervy mode, allowing Liverpool to capitalise on it. The opening goal came from Liverpool as Mascherano picked up Wilshere's miscontrolled ball and fed it to N'Gog, who hit a superb shot from an acute into the net.
Arsenal tried hard to regain their composure and regroup after that but failed to do so until the susbtitutes, Rosicky and Walcott came on for Wilshere and Eboue. Walcott exerted his pace with the hope of changing the game, but the Gunners were still playing very narrowly with Chamakh failing to get any decent service in a tight Liverpool central area. As the last 20 minutes approached, Wenger played his last trump card by replacing Diaby with van Persie and changing the formation to a 4-4-2.
With Rosicky and Nasri orchestrating central midfield and van Persie playing upfront with Chamakh, the game seemed to alter a little. In one brilliant occasion, van Persie and Rosicky managed to combine, doing a one-two with Rosicky collecting the final ball, dribbling past Liverpool centrebacks and lastly hitting a curler which was tipped over by Reina in the end. As everyone thought that the game was over for the Arsenal, Rosicky hit a cross from the left flank into the box, then Chamakh attacked the ball in the air and forced the ball into the net. Reina mishandled the ball and the ball rolled into the net in the end. 1-1.
Arsenal survived the late Liverpool onslaught due to several freekicks near Arsenal's penalty box. Koscielny collected his second yellow after an unfortunate handball and was sent off. The game ended 1-1 as the full time whistle is blown.
Coming up tomorrow, The Arsenal Press will present their final thoughts on the Liverpool-Arsenal game. Keep it logged on to The Arsenal Press!
Arsenal tried hard to regain their composure and regroup after that but failed to do so until the susbtitutes, Rosicky and Walcott came on for Wilshere and Eboue. Walcott exerted his pace with the hope of changing the game, but the Gunners were still playing very narrowly with Chamakh failing to get any decent service in a tight Liverpool central area. As the last 20 minutes approached, Wenger played his last trump card by replacing Diaby with van Persie and changing the formation to a 4-4-2.
With Rosicky and Nasri orchestrating central midfield and van Persie playing upfront with Chamakh, the game seemed to alter a little. In one brilliant occasion, van Persie and Rosicky managed to combine, doing a one-two with Rosicky collecting the final ball, dribbling past Liverpool centrebacks and lastly hitting a curler which was tipped over by Reina in the end. As everyone thought that the game was over for the Arsenal, Rosicky hit a cross from the left flank into the box, then Chamakh attacked the ball in the air and forced the ball into the net. Reina mishandled the ball and the ball rolled into the net in the end. 1-1.
Arsenal survived the late Liverpool onslaught due to several freekicks near Arsenal's penalty box. Koscielny collected his second yellow after an unfortunate handball and was sent off. The game ended 1-1 as the full time whistle is blown.
Coming up tomorrow, The Arsenal Press will present their final thoughts on the Liverpool-Arsenal game. Keep it logged on to The Arsenal Press!
Follow us now!
To our future and current readers and viewers, feel free to join us by following us at
To our future and current readers and viewers, feel free to join us by following us at
No comments:
Post a Comment