A Comedy of Errors at Emirates Stadium on Sunday; only this time, for a change, despite their well-known capacity for shooting themselves in the foot, Arsenal didn't come out on the wrong side of it all!
I'll get on to the Celebration Police nonsense later on, but to be frank I'd rather analyse the actual football than get caught up in other peoples' pathetic attempts to undermine Arsenal at every given opportunity. And so I'll begin with my thoughts on the tactical battle that shaped the game.
I have to say from the outset that this was comfortably Arsenal's best performance of the season so far. Whilst I - amongst others - was more than a little unsure about the selection of Havertz in attack prior to kick-off, I have to give props firstly to Mikel Arteta and his coaching staff for formulating plans to negate Liverpool's strengths, and secondly to the players for not only carrying them out so precisely, but for playing with such commitment and passion throughout.
Against many sides who sit back and wait for Arsenal to take the bull by the horns, the pattern of games tends to be predictable and, at times, quite pedestrian and boring. But there was no danger of that against a team that were obviously going to turn up and try to play. And whilst Liverpool had key players either out or not completely fit (as, of course, did Arsenal), they certainly had more than enough about them to hurt any opponent. But Arsenal pretty much negated any threat throughout the entire game, showing the football world that they realised how important this contest was.
It's worth noting at this point, by the way - although you may be aware that I'm not always a big fan of statistics - that Liverpool conceded their highest ever recorded xG in this game. And that between them Liverpool and City had a combined xG of less than 1 over two full games at Emirates Stadium this season. Arsenal have a hell of a defence.
Make no mistake, Arsenal are a very good football team. They have gifted players all over the pitch, and are generally well-coached. And whilst it's sometimes difficult to warm to the constant 'umbrella passing' forced upon them by the negativity of many so-called 'inferior' opponents, this game was the real deal; and it gave Mikel Arteta the chance to show his worth as a tactician.
The loss of Jesus to injury was something of a surprise, and it meant resorting to a similar line-up to the one that had dominated Liverpool for the first half of the FA Cup tie only a month prior, but had failed to take a multitude of highly presentable chances in the first half and who had then succumbed to an own goal and a late breakaway winner in what was admittedly a much more equal second half. The concern was, I guess, not that Arsenal wouldn't create chances. More that they wouldn't be capable of putting them away.
Whilst there will be those who always want to criticise Kai Havertz, in this game he did a fine job; engaging the centre-halves when he could, dropping into cover to make life difficult, and generally putting himself about. He did miss a very presentable chance, as we know, and sometimes looks a bit too languid, but I'll still give him at least 7 out of 10 for this particular performance.
And it was Arsenal's shape that helped them dominate. Havertz played as more of a 'false 9' than a traditional centre forward, and assisted by Odegaard helped form the front pair of a box that was completed by Jorginho and Rice behind. This pressing box gave whoever was on the ball for Liverpool little or no time to play the mid- to long-range passes that characterise this Klopp side. They are the most 'long ball' of the three title contenders, and whilst MacAllister occasionally had some space to drive into - often to be fronted up by Rice - there was little of what makes Liverpool so dangerous.
Interestingly, one would perhaps have expected Rice to be the further forward of the 'double pivot' selected by Arteta, but it was more often than not Jorginho - a big game player if there has ever been one, and who had his best ever game in an Arsenal shirt - who pressed on; thus giving him a more decisive passing role and leaving Rice, with his extra physical capabilities, to mop up behind if required. We often see Odegaard leading the press, but it felt on Sunday that it was Jorginho who was doing all the vocal prompting. And, either side, Saka and Martinelli kept the full backs on their toes.
Jorginho is an interesting player in this Arsenal squad. More often than not, his 'particular set of skills' are not necessarily required on days when Arteta can afford to play a more progressive midfield. And had Partey been fit I'm pretty sure that he'd have been more likely to start in this one. But on days like this his experience is invaluable. Chelsea fans weren't that sorry to see him go - how they must long for him now! Because on this day he was imperious.
We can see from these photographs - lifted from 'The Breakdown' on arsenal.com - how the pressing box stifled Liverpool.
And how the brilliant move that led to Arsenal's opening goal was put together. A series of one-touch passes, a cut infield from Zinchenko, and suddently Odegaard was able to split the Liverpool defence (in the first of a series of horrendous errors from a usually thoroughly reliable individual, where on earth, one must ask, was Van Dijk?) with a through ball to Havertz. As he went through, I can remember thinking: 'He's got too much time to think about this. He won't score.' But fortunately Saka was Johnny-on-the-spot to tuck away the rebound and put Arsenal into a thoroughly deserved lead. A super goal, on the whole.
And it was frankly all Arsenal for almost the rest of the first half. Until... well, we've all seen it. I'm going to apportion most of the blame for it to the otherwise mainly immaculate Saliba, although others were keen to blame David Raya. But if in doubt, get rid!
And the worst thing about it was the immediate change of mood inside the ground. It was like a gigantic balloon had been pricked, and levels of both noise and expectation dipped dramatically. How, we were all thinking, can Liverpool have been so completely outplayed but be going in level?
A half-time change, with the apparently injured Zinchenko replaced by Jacob Kivior (a defender with completely diffferent qualities to the Ukrainian). And for the first 5 minutes of the second half it was all Liverpool. Everything felt like it had been turned on its head. But they failed to score - they had three shots, including their only one on target, in this period - and Arsenal soon began to reassert. Things were at least back on an even keel. Until...
And if Liverpool's equaliser was a bit of a farce, Martinelli's goal to retake the lead for Arsenal was hysterically funny. If you're not a Liverpool supporter, that is. Again, you've seen it, of course. And with grateful thanks, Martinelli tucked the ball into the totally unguarded net. How we laughed!!!
And from then on Arsenal were in control. Although it was slightly surprising to see Martinelli, who had sprinted himself to a standstill, replaced after 70 minutes when he'd been absolutely key to Arsenal's dominance. He must have been exhausted, to be fair.
For all of Liverpool's huffing and puffing, they created practically nothing. And whilst the belated introduction of Nunez gave them extra power and physicality, it was nothing that Arsenal couldn't handle. For all that, Gabriel was probably fortunate not to receive a second yellow card following a tangle with Nunez on halfway; this not long after Konate had seen a second yellow and then red for two clear offences on Havertz. Liverpool felt hard done by on the officiating front, but so did we - especially at half-time, when we'd sensed that Anthony Taylor had given Arsenal nothing all half. The incompetence at least levelled itself out on this occasion.
The game ended as a contest with a futher 'semi-assist' from Virgil Van Dijk. He was slow to come across to meet Trossard, who had tricked and skipped his way clear of Elliott and Diaz before bearing down on Allison's goal. And his half-hearted attempt to block the Belgian's shot only served to deflect the ball away from the keeper's hands.
Interesting to see two centre halves of such quality as he and Saliba make the types of mistakes as they did on this day. It's not arrogance, I'm sure. Although on each occasion there was an element of over-confidence. They'll both learn from this, I'm sure - although Van Dijk is nearing the end of the type of illustrious career that we can only hope Saliba ends up having.
And now I have to address the Celebration Police. For whom I have no time. Because pundits have no right - no right whatsoever! - to criticise so called 'over-celebration'. And they love to pick on Mikel Arteta and Arsenal above all others.
And here's why. This was a massive game. Arsenal absolutely had to win it, or they'd have been out of the running for the title. That they did so in the manner in which they did was totally worthy of big celebrations. It's not as if Jurgen Klopp doesn't behave in a similar way - all that orchestrated triple fist pump stuff at the end of every home win for starters. Guardiola does it too. And we cannot forget the antics of the so-called Special One, can we? Yes, Arteta has won just a single FA Cup in his fledgling career. So perhaps having won more titles gives one the supposed 'right' to behave like that. But the guy lives, loves and breathes Arsenal, his job is on the line if he doesn't deliver, and what is football if it's not about moments?
Same for the players. Let them enjoy the moment. And - especially - let them come together with the supporters in the ground and rejoice. We fans go to escape the humdrum; to have a bit of a break from the harsh realities of life. We deserve moments like this. North London Forever. Voulez Vous. Move On Up. Whatever it takes.
I'm with Ian Wright on this. Not the likes of Neville, Sutton and Carragher - along with Commissioner Keys. They can all f*ck off! 'They're celebrating like they've won the league' is the usual line. Well, just you wait until we do! And even if we don't, why shouldn't we take our enjoyment where we can? Killjoys...
OK - we're now just two points behind Liverpool, and very close to the bloated, unchecked City juggernaut too. Anything can happen between now and the end of the season. But for me it's absolutely key for Arsenal to take maximum points before the return game with City in a few weeks. Starting with taking revenge over West Ham for defeat just a few weeks ago. We're back in form, and they've fallen out of it, and are suffering without Pacqueta. This is the first of a number of winnable games on the horizon.
So COYG!
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