Happy Christmas footballing neutrals, what a game of ball! Arsenal vs Liverpool was exactly what we all thought it was going to be. Some wonderful attacking football, great goals, terrible defending and even worse goalkeeping.
'There'll be goals in this game anyway' seemed to be the quote most used when previewing this game before hand, and there was: six of them. The scoring was opened by a deft little header from Liverpool's Phillipe Coutinho. Liverpool then went on to miss a hat full of chances to make sure the score remained 1-0 at half time, with the home side registering zero shots on or off target in the first half.
The second half brought about seven minutes of absolute madness. Mo Salah extended his lead at the top of the Premier League goal scoring chart by putting Liverpool 2-0 up on 52 minutes. Six minutes later Arsenal were 3-2 up.
Joe Gomez showed his lack of senior experience by falling asleep at the back post as Alexis Sanchez nipped in front of him to pull it back to 2-1. Then Simon Mignolet showed why so many Liverpool fans doubt Jurgen Klopp's decision to make him the number 1 at the club. Granit Xhaka powered a shot home from 20 odd yards with Mignolet only putting one hand up and knocking it into his own corner.
Mesut Özil showed why so many clubs will be monitoring his contract situation in January with a move of individual brilliance to put Arsenal 3-2 up. Arsenal looking a totally different team that was booed off with zero shots in anger at half time. Roberto Firmino had the final say when his shot was too powerful for an unlucky Petr Cech.
This game had it all though and there won't have been a neutral watching tonight who won't have enjoyed it. Let alone the on the field entertainment, Jamie Carragher's not-s0-subtle jibes at Simon Mignolet after Arsenal's second goal was enough to make you smile.
The online reaction to the game has been equally as fun:
This game is literally a competition of who can play the worst and still win #ARSvLIV
— Muz (@callumusgrave) December 22, 2017
“Can’t be accused of defensive football if you don’t defend.”#ARSvLIV pic.twitter.com/RjpEPQu7kc
— NOW Sport (@NOWSport) December 22, 2017
Both keepers displaying the paper mache hands technique... #havingone 🖐🏻🖐🏻
— Joey Barton (@Joey7Barton) December 22, 2017
A great advert for the @premierleague. Not a great advert for defending or goalkeeping! #ARSvsLIV
— Alan Shearer (@alanshearer) December 22, 2017
Strange as it sounds, the fact Liverpool defended well in the first half made their collapse in the second even worse - shows they’re capable of staying strong but ultimately lack the mental fibre not to panic when they concede. Momentum easily lost, individual errors to the fore
— Sachin Nakrani (@SachinNakrani) December 22, 2017
That goes straight into the #PL classics folder 😍#ARSLIV pic.twitter.com/YGTbMzBpRN
— Premier League (@premierleague) December 22, 2017
What a way for neutrals to start off the always exciting festival fixtures, whereas Arsenal and Liverpool fans will be asking Santy for new sets of fingernails. Let's hope the bar for the Christmas campaign hasn't been set too high now! Roll on the next two weeks.
