Independent

Arsenal vs Liverpool live: Gunners searching for late winner after frustrating Premier League outing

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Arsenal and Liverpool played out a tense, frustrating Premier League clash at the Emirates, with the hosts pushing desperately for a late winner after failing to convert long spells of dominance.[1] The match unfolded with Arsenal on a strong run of form, having won five straight league games and sitting clear at the top of the table, while defending champions Liverpool arrived 14 points behind and under pressure after consecutive draws against Fulham and Leeds.[1]



Mikel Arteta’s side controlled much of the tempo, repeatedly working the ball into dangerous areas, particularly through Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard, who combined neatly in and around the box.[1] One of Arsenal’s best chances saw Rice slip Trossard into space inside the area, only for the Belgian’s low shot to be smothered, encapsulating the home side’s inability to find a cutting edge.[1] Liverpool, set up by Arne Slot to be compact and reactive, spent long periods tracking Arsenal’s movement and looking to break, but created few clear chances of their own.

The broader context added weight to every missed opportunity. Arsenal, chasing their first title in years, were looking to maintain momentum after a dramatic 3-2 win over Bournemouth in which Rice scored twice.[1] Liverpool, unbeaten in eight league games but drawing too often, knew that another failure to win would deepen scrutiny on Slot and effectively end their already faint title hopes.[1] Mohamed Salah’s continued absence on international duty and injuries elsewhere blunted Liverpool’s attacking threat, further encouraging Arsenal to commit men forward.[1]

As the game moved into the final stages, the pattern remained the same: Arsenal probing for openings, Liverpool clinging on and threatening sporadically on the counter. The Gunners’ frustrations grew as half-chances went begging and Liverpool’s defence, marshalled by Virgil van Dijk, held firm. In the end, Arsenal could not find the late winner they craved, leaving them with a result that, while not disastrous in the table, felt like a missed opportunity in their title charge.[1]