Why there are still positives to take from Arsenal’s draw with Liverpool

The first half was nothing short of a shambles. First choice centre backs Laurent Koscielny (back injury) and Per Mertesacker (illness) were ruled out. That left the door open for Gabriel and Calum Chambers to start their first game of the season.

Both players looked nervous from the first whistle with Chambers giving away the ball in dangerous areas on more than one occasion. They looked like a pair who’d rarely played together and the language barrier certainly didn’t help. It seemed like the nervousness spread throughout the team with several players guilty of sloppy passes.

A series of last ditch tackles from Coquelin and two stunning saves from Petr Cech ensured that Arsenal went into the break at 0-0. Ramsey had seen his earlier goal wrongly ruled offside but it was very much a first half in which Liverpool should have taken the lead. Arsene Wenger had a huge job to do at half time.

The second half saw a much more composed and assured Arsenal side. Santi Cazorla, Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez began to see more of the ball and dictate the game. Chances fell to Alexis, who hit the post, and Oliver Giroud had a couple of opportunities to put Arsenal in the lead.

The introduction of Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain for Giroud and Coquelin saw the Gunners become more direct. ‘The Ox’ gave the young Joe Gomez problems at left back so much to suggest the perhaps he could have come on earlier.

Arsenal’s outstanding performers we’re undoubtedly Petr Cech, Francois Coquelin and Nacho Monreal. The Czech keeper displayed exactly why he was signed in the summer. Coquelin showed his form of last season and Monreal was again outstanding as he has been for 6 months or so. Gabriel deserves an honourable mention, he grew in confidence as the game progressed and Arsenal fans will be hoping for more performances like the one he showed in the second half.

Excuse the cliché but it really was a game of two halves and perhaps a draw was a fair result. However, Arsenal will be rueing starting the game so poorly and missing chances in the second half. The only solace the Arsenal fans can take is that this was 3 games into the season and not in April/May. There’s a long way to go.