It's half time at The Emirates Stadium and
With such a big game so early in the season, the hype around this game was very real, and sure enough the first 15 mins were fantastic with counters and quick breaks the theme of the end to end action early on.
Liverpool settled into the match far quicker, but Arsenal had chances too and should have had a goal as Aaron Ramsey saw a tidy finish incorrectly ruled out. Best of luck to the Premier League linesman who collectively are attempting to smash their previous record of incorrect decisions, it's been a strong start!
Here are the stats that define the first half of the action:
Arsenal are being pulled all over the place by Liverpool's speedy attackers, and these two are struggling.
5 minutes:
There hasn’t been a goalless draw in the last 32 PL games between Arsenal & Liverpool, dating back to 98-99, when both games were 0-0 #MNF
— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) August 24, 2015
The inevitablility of a 0-0 draw becomes all the more worrying...
10 minutes:
Mesut Özil, Aaron Ramsey and Santi Cazorla have completed 95% of their combined passes so far. #AFC pic.twitter.com/GIsQfwsdpA
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) August 24, 2015
Arsenal's creative triumvirate of Ramsey, Ozil and Thanti Cathorla start us off with some very accurate passing.
25 minutes:
Gabriel Paulista and Calum Chambers haven't won a single tackle or made a single interception between them yet. #Arsenal
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) August 24, 2015
40 minutes:
Just LOOK at how many times Arsenal have given the ball away trying to play out from the back tonight. #Arsenal pic.twitter.com/PjwfMvwO7D
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) August 24, 2015
After a strong star, Arsenal's passing turns to mulch.
45 minutes:
These are the average positions of both teams, very attacking, Arsenal are actually adopting a questionmark formation.
It remains to be seen if we'll get any goals in the second half. There has to be some goals... Surely...
