Arsenal are still without a win since 2012 at Anfield as the Gunners drew 2-2 with Liverpool on Merseyside.
At the start of the season, the fixture looked as though it could be a blockbuster, but instead, it was quite the opposite.
While confirmation of a top-five finish was on the line for Arsenal, Liverpool had already wrapped up the Premier League title.
Arsenal gave Liverpool a guard of honour to commence the action at Anfield, on an afternoon that was rather humiliating for Mikel Arteta’s side in more ways than one.
The Gunners turned their early struggles into second-half spirit to fight back from a two-goal deficit.
With the points shared in a 2-2 draw at Anfield, here’s how the Arsenal squad rated.
Arsenal player ratings vs Liverpool
David Raya – 6
If it wasn’t for Raya, Arsenal could’ve headed into the dressing room at half time with a deficit far higher than two goals.
That being said, a pattern regarding the Spaniard’s poor distribution and panic when playing out from the back has been noticed.
Myles Lewis-Skelly – 6
Keeping Mohamed Salah quiet has been a task very few defenders have succeeded at this season, and unfortunately, Lewis-Skelly joined that list at Anfield.
William Saliba – 4
Even Saliba struggled on Merseyside, as the Frenchman was far too slow anticipating Liverpool’s threat, as the Reds carved Arsenal open numerous times.
The centre-back looked as though he was already on his holidays.
Jakub Kiwior – 5
There was some lackadaisical defending from Kiwior at times, as Liverpool charged in behind the Poland international far too frequently.
The centre-back did make a monstrous block to redeem himself.
Ben White – 5
It was a game of two halves for White at Anfield.
The Englishman was caught napping when Cody Gakpo netted Liverpool’s second, but grew into the game and offered a strong link to Saka on the right side.
Still, Jurrien Timber’s absence was noticeable from the kick-off.
Thomas Partey – 3
Partey’s performance encapsulated that of a player whose contract is soon to expire and the summer holidays are about to begin.
Arsenal fans were furious with Partey’s lack of pace against Liverpool, as the Ghanaian was outrun time after time in transition.
Mikel Merino – 6.5
Merino put a lot of effort into attempting to break Liverpool down, and after 70 minutes of action, his work paid off as he anticipated Alisson’s spill from Odegaard’s shot.
Unfortunately, the summer signing’s work was undone as he was sent off for a second yellow card offence.
Martin Odegaard – 5
It was another ineffective and largely anonymous outing from the captain at Anfield, but Odegaard so nearly ended his slump with a long-range strike on goal.
Gabriel Martinelli – 7.5
He suffered from a lack of time on the ball in the first half, but Martinelli redeemed himself in the second, finding space expertly to find the back of the net.
The Brazilian found a lot of joy stretching Liverpool as he took up central areas of the attack, being Arsenal’s main source of threat.
Bukayo Saka – 6
A rare poor outing for Saka, who missed a remarkable chance to score from a well-worked set piece in the first half.
Though the winger did what he could to trouble Liverpool, even the best would struggle to make something happen in Arsenal’s disjointed front line.
Leandro Trossard – 6
Trossard was frantic in the box when he had the chance to score in the first half; in the second, the former Brighton man proved his worth with an inch-perfect cross onto Martinelli’s head.
Substitutes
Riccardo Calafiori – N/A
Calafiori was introduced moments before Merino’s red card, altering the Italian’s role in the game.
Kieran Tierney – N/A
Tierney had minimal time on the ball after coming on to play in a right-wing-back role after Arsenal went down to ten men.
Oleksandr Zinchenko – N/A
Zinchenko replaced Saka in the dying embers.
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