Arsenal vs. Liverpool: No Salah, No VVD, No Problem

Talk about heading into a tense FA Cup 3rd round clash versus one of the toughest premier league side there is, then you have no better clash than Arsenal versus Liverpool at the Emirates.

The narratives will have Liverpool winning by a 0-2 score line, but it was a betrayal to the headline and of course to what the Gunners came with to frustrate the Reds’ evening. They could and should have if they were more clinical enough in front of goal.

Arsenal started the tie with the advantage swaying their way as Liverpool went into the game missing their Captain and defender, Virgil van Dijk at the heart of the defense to injury.

In fact, Van Dijk’s absence was so noticeable that Liverpool were caught making individual errors that on average should have led to a goal or two for Arsenal. But for some reason, the 6 shots on goal against Liverpool‘s Alisson Becker, went begging as the Reds managed a clean sheet to win the tie.

Credit to the defensive partnerships of Ibrahima Konate and Jarrell Quansah at Centre Backs, who had to cover for a few lapses from their full backs and midfield.

With absences of their Captain, their Defensive Midfielder, and star forward, Liverpool found a way to survive an attacking onslaught from the Gunners. Captain on the day, Trent Alexander-Arnold and winger, Luis Diaz coming into action to help get Liverpool over the line versus Arsenal.

For Arsenal, they will have their missed chances to rue and of course, their full back, Jakub Kiwior to blame.

The Gunners are still fazed by same problems of inability to convert chances, while the Reds find themselves wanting in midfield and a deadly finisher which Darwin Nunez sadly keeps reminding the world he isn’t.