Player Ratings: Spirited Arsenal pull off Liverpool comeback to draw 2-2 at Anfield
Gabriel Martinelli and Mikel Merino netted in the second half for Mikel Arteta’s side
Player Ratings by View From The Armchair (on holiday on the rums by the pool in Crete...)
David Raya: 7/10 - On 19 minutes Gakpo, quick throw in and a near post header for 1-0. 20 minutes 2-0, bring back Johnny Lukic, maybe next year I might finally be able to write in full, money for nothing and your chicks for free when he gets a clean sheet.
Ben White: 7/10 - My boy who don’t like football must be reading the View From The Armchair via Crete as I'm giving him a bonus point for attempting to skin someone.
William Saliba: 7/10 - suns out here in Crete, I’m on a sunbed, the Rolls Royce at the heart of our defence looks like he wants this.
Jakub Kiwior: 7/10 - laying down a marker not only for this match but for next season, Gabriel should have some competition. 2-0 down after 20 minutes implies we need Gabriel back, although I’m hearing murmurings through the rum, Saliba was at fault for both? It escaped me, I’m drunk what do I know.
Myles Lewis Skelly: 7/10 - What to say? Experience gained? First time at a raucous Anfield, this guy's gonna be the first name on the team sheet for years to come, bonus point for his breakthrough this year.
Martin Odegaard: 7/10 - let the man get on a sunbed, recuperate, recharge, we go again, keep the faith, trust the process, if you can’t, come and watch it on a buffering feed in Crete like me, it’s all Good, he’s still a maestro, assist from the shot pushed onto the crossbar 2-2! Shot narrowly past the post in the dying seconds.
Thomas Partey: 6.5/10 - might be changing my opinion, read in the week the consensus is he has to go, I would be inclined to find a replacement and then ship him if we want too, tough at the top, the cream always rises.
Mikel Merino: 6.5 /10 - was he even on the pitch? Visibly agitated on 44 minutes, not surprised he’s barely touched the ball, herein lies the Merino conundrum, great when he’s great, not so much when he’s anonymous, fox in the box on 70 minutes to score. 2-2 let’s have it 2-2!! That’s not a red card, second yellow and he’s off, leaving his teammates 10 mins left to hold on for the draw.
Bukayo Saka: 7/10 - should have scored on three minutes, blazed over on 29 after some nifty footwork, star boy is another one who needs a break. Even dangerous on a day off, as he always is, he’s world class enjoy it and him Gooners.
Leo Trossard: 7.5/10 - I’m 38 minutes in, I’ve been on the rum all day, the View From The Armchair by the pool in Crete can't actually recall him touching the ball in the first half, looking dangerous at the start of the second, provided the assist on 46 mins for Martinelli with a pinpoint cross, bonus point for being from Belgium and playing for the Arsenal...
Gabi Martinelli: 7.5/10 - I maintain, I love him, he is world class, if you need a reminder watch his run from his own half against the supposed best team on the planet to score the winner in the last minute in Madrid, judge him on that not today, sunglasses out, he’s on the sunbed, desperately needs some competition and a breather. 46 minutes breathes life into this game 2-1 Liverpool. Very nearly equalised on 60 minutes, our most dangerous threat today.
Substitutes:
Riccardo Califori: 6.5/10 - made it two left backs
Alex Zinchenko: 6.5/10 - made it three left backs
Kieran Tierney: 6.5/10 - madr it four left backs
Arsenal supporter watch:
I couldn’t hear a thing, through the sun, through the cocktails, with one eye on a 4-3 humdinger of an El Classico, I have complete faith you did your bit and got behind the boys COYG, a nice little marker for next year !!