Reds Secure 2-2 Draw Against Arsenal: Key Lessons for Arne Slot
A point away at Arsenal is always a good point. This wasn’t a great game by any means and if you’re honest it’s easier to say who impressed you than the other way around. Nevertheless the traveling Kop and their fine voices came away with a hard earned point against a team that’ll be up there at the end of this season.
Injuries played a story in this one too and there’s a lot for Arne Slot to unpack from this game. He and the reds will need to learn a few lessons from this one and quickly. We look at them as we came back twice at The Emirates to head back to Merseyside with something.
One Bit Of Real Quality
That’s what ultimately secured the result in this one, as you were wondering where it was going to come from. Trent Alexander-Arnold had done an impression of a competition winner for most of the game, but suddenly referred who he was. A great ball over the top saw Nunez latch onto and in keeping with his recent performances, he showed a cool head and made a great decision in weighting the ball perfectly across to Salah.
The Egyptian king reminded everyone why he’s paid the big bucks and slotted calmly into the corner. Be honest, we didn’t really create much else. Big players make a difference in the big moments though.
Lots Wrong, Some Right By Slot
This wasn’t the best performance by the players, but they weren’t helped by some of the decisions from Arne Slot. Havertz and Martinelli dropped deep in the first half and they destroyed our midfield. The mistake was trying to wait until half-time when Arsenal were massively on top from 25 minutes onwards and he’ll need to learn from that quickly.
The substitutes were great though and Szoboszlai, Tsimikas and Gakpo all improved us in the second half as replacements for the abject Robertson, Diaz and the already booked Mac Allister. You could argue that it was also helped by Arsenal injuries, but you make your own look at times.
Injury Narrative Isn’t A Bad Thing
Remember when we had those injuries and were told not to complain, it was part and parcel of football etc? Well you’d think there were kids everywhere from the way Arsenal fans were talking beforehand. Only Saliba and Odeegard weren’t in the strongest line-up and they seemed to forget that we had Alisson and Jota out.
Then Gary Neville mentioned it at every opportunity, yet Bradley, Chiesa and Elliott weren’t mentioned. Keep this in mind though. They’re piling the psychological pressure on themselves at the moment by looking for every excuse possible. Don’t give them any reason to stop the nonsense Arteta narrative. No trophies in five years will do that to a fanbase. Let them burn their own heads out.