Tac-Talk : Why Arsenal Couldn’t Beat Liverpool

The 0-0 stalemate between Arsenal and Liverpool at the Emirates was a match defined by a sharp tale of two halves and a match where both teams ended up canceling each other out tactically. While the scoreline suggested a lack of entertainment, the contest was a high-stakes battle of attrition where Arsenal’s early offensive dominance was eventually neutralized by Liverpool’s second-half resurgence and the clinical shot-stopping of Alisson Becker.

Both sides showed immense technical composure, yet the result highlighted the thin margins that define the Premier League title race, as Arsenal missed the opportunity to extend their lead at the summit to eight points.

The tactical complexion of the game swung dramatically at the interval, with both Mikel Arteta and Arne Slot seeing their respective game plans succeed and fail in equal measure across the ninety minutes, culminating in the stalemate.

Arsenal began the match at a relentless pace, pressing aggressively and attempting to overwhelm Liverpool with intensity and movement. The tactical focus was heavily weighted toward the right flank, where Bukayo Saka and Jurriën Timber combined to stretch the Liverpool defense, firing a series of crosses into the box that kept the visitors pinned in their own half. During this opening 25-minute period, Arsenal bossed the possession and territorial data, forcing Liverpool into an extremely defensive posture that saw them struggle to build any meaningful attacks.

However, for all their territorial dominance, Arsenal struggled to carve out clear-cut chances against a compact Liverpool block. Despite their superior xG of 0.57, much of their threat was neutralized by Liverpool’s deep-lying organization. Paradoxically, it was Liverpool who came closest to scoring in the first half when a rare mix-up between William Saliba and David Raya allowed Conor Bradley to strike the crossbar with a speculative lob, a moment that briefly silenced the Emirates and underscored the danger of Arsenal’s high line.

The momentum shifted noticeably after the interval as Liverpool emerged with renewed confidence and tactical adjustments. Arne Slot’s side began to dominate the ball for large spells of the 45 minutes, winning duels and contesting second balls to limit Arsenal’s ability to regain their earlier authority.

Ryan Gravenberch was exceptional in this phase, keeping things ticking in midfield as Liverpool exerted a level of control that left the home side increasingly frustrated and passive. Arsenal’s inability to maintain their first-half pressure was striking; they registered only 3 shots in the second half, compared to 6 in the first, highlighting a marked loss of offensive rhythm.

While tactics provided the framework, the result was in part also dictated by the presence and technical brilliance of Alisson Becker. The Liverpool goalkeeper acted as an impenetrable wall, recording four saves that served as sequential blows to Arsenal’s belief.

Alisson’s influence began in the 18th minute, denying Bukayo Saka’s low-driven effort to prevent an early psychological advantage for the Gunners. He was equally vital just before the break, stopping a powerful strike from Declan Rice to ensure Liverpool entered the locker room level. His most critical interventions, however, came during a frantic stoppage-time period. As Arsenal desperately searched for a magic moment, Alisson produced back-to-back saves against Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus to preserve the clean sheet and frustrate the Emirates crowd.

The match was a physically demanding encounter that tested the structural adaptability of both managers, especially as injuries began to take a toll. Arsenal were forced into a defensive reshuffle in the 57th minute when Piero Hincapié was withdrawn, replaced by the less experienced Myles Lewis-Skelly. Later, Arteta made the bold decision to withdraw both Martin Ødegaard and Bukayo Saka in the 78th minute, a move that aimed to freshen the attack with Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke but ultimately failed to produce the desired spark.

The mental fatigue of the title race was evident in the closing stages as tempers flared. An ugly melee broke out in stoppage time after Gabriel Martinelli attempted to push the injured Conor Bradley off the pitch to continue play, resulting in a yellow card for the Brazilian. This lapse in discipline highlighted the desperation within the Arsenal ranks as they realized the victory was slipping away. Liverpool, conversely, showed immense mental strength to survive these final minutes despite losing Bradley to a serious-looking knee injury in the 93rd minute.

Ultimately, the 0-0 result was a byproduct of two systems that reached a tactical equilibrium. Arsenal “won” the first half through intensity and flank aggression, while Liverpool “won” the second half through central control and defensive organization. The match ended in a stalemate because neither side allowed their structural blueprint to fracture, even under the mounting pressure of injuries and a raucous atmosphere, but also because neither side could really take advantage of their periods of dominance. While the point maintains Arsenal’s lead at the top of the table, the frustration visible on the players’ faces at full-time suggested a deep awareness of the opportunity missed.