Arsenal and Liverpool engaged in a classic tale of two halves at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday, where the Premier League title hopefuls traded control without goals.
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The Gunners were very good in the first half but could not find the back of the goal amongst the bluster, and the Reds seized second-half impetus in taking the hosts almost completely out of the game.
It was a day for the midfielders as the visitors failed to get a shot on target — with apologies to Conor Bradley smacking the post with a chipped effort — and the teams didn’t even combine for a full expected goal (Arsenal 0.57-0.36).
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So who shined and who slumped? Arsenal vs Liverpool player ratings are below.
Arsenal vs Liverpool player ratings
David Raya: 5.5 — Had little to do and nearly gave Conor Bradley a goal with a rushed clearance.
Jurrien Timber: 6.5 — One of the players of the first half, running the game from the right with Bukayo Saka, he faded in the second.
William Saliba: 7 — For all of Liverpool’s second-half control, they didn’t really sniff the danger areas.
Gabriel Magalhaes: 7.5 — See Saliba’s rating, with an added bonus for continuing to push passes into Liverpool’s final third.
Piero Hincapie (Off 57'): 6.5 — A couple of timely interceptions but the play was so rarely in both Arsenal’s end and on the left side while he was in the game.
Martin Zubimendi: 7 — His work gave Rice the freedom to do more in attack.
Declan Rice: 7.5 — Created multiple good chances for the Gunners and always looked ready to win the ball back or support his teammates.
Martin Odegaard (Off 78'): 6 — Didn’t put his team in any bad positions, but his tidiness with the ball came at the sacrifice of his vision and adventure.
Bukayo Saka (Off 78'): 7 — Very good in the first half but his influence waned along with his team.
Leandro Trossard (Off ’65): 6 — Always seemed hampered by the first half yellow card he took for breaking up a Florian Wirtz counter attack.
Viktor Gyokeres (Off 65'): 6 — The Gunners aren’t playing like they have a feared target forward despite Gyokeres’ work rate being far from lazy. Do they not trust him, or can they not find him?
Subs
Myles Lewis-Skelly (On ’57): 5 — Given a huge headache by Frimpong.
Gabriel Martinelli (On 65'): 5.5 — A nice effort in stoppage time, but that can’t overshadow his classless shove of an injured Bradley.
Gabriel Jesus (On 65'): 6.5 — A lively if short run.
Eberechi Eze (On 78'): N/A
Noni Madueke (On 78'): N/A
Liverpool vs Arsenal player ratings
Alisson Becker: 7.5 — Four saves and a good read of the game as Arsenal tried to grab the points in a passionate first half.
Milos Kerkez: 7 — A little wobbly in the first half but gathered himself and looked more like ‘Bournemouth Kerkez’ in the second frame.
Ibrahima Konate: 6.5 — Made sure Gyokeres felt his presence from the opening whistle.
Virgil van Dijk: 7 — A steady day at the back and flashed his range of passing as the game wore into its final stages.
Conor Bradley (Off 90+5'): 6 — Clipped the bar in the first half and ran his shorts off the whole game but it was a little too much. Hopefully his late leg injury isn’t as serious as his reaction.
Ryan Gravenberch: 8 — The defensive work can de-focus and exhaust some players of their ambition and creativity but Gravenberch always appeared ready to seize whatever chances the game gave him.
Alexis Mac Allister: 5.5 — Poor in the first half, he rallied with a better second-half grade.
Dominik Szoboszlai: 7 — Rattled off five shot attempts but couldn’t recreate his free kick wizardry despite a pair of good chances.
Florian Wirtz: 7.5 — He’s officially — beyond a shadow of a doubt — found his footing. Now it’s on Arne Slot to find a formation that gets him on the ball even more.
Cody Gakpo: 6 — Effort was there, sharpness was not.
Jeremie Frimpong: 5.5 — His pace caused Hincapie some headaches and Lewis-Skelly migraines but his next move rarely seemed to be on point.
Subs
Joe Gomez (On 90+5'): N/A
