A magnificent performance from goalkeeper Petr Cech constantly rescued a weakened Arsenal defence.
With Arsenal centre-backs Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny absent -- the former ill, the latter laid low by a back problem -- Liverpool dominated the first half, hitting the woodwork twice and seeing Petr Cech produce an astonishing save to deny Christian Benteke, although Aaron Ramsey also had a goal contentiously ruled out for Arsenal
Tom WILLIAMS/AFP
London
Arsenal and Liverpool had to settle for a point each after a richly entertaining game of two halves beneath the Emirates Stadium drizzle implausibly finished 0-0 on Monday.
With Arsenal centre-backs Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny absent -- the former ill, the latter laid low by a back problem -- Liverpool dominated the first half, hitting the woodwork twice and seeing Petr Cech produce an astonishing save to deny Christian Benteke, although Aaron Ramsey also had a goal contentiously ruled out for Arsenal. The hosts took control in the second half, Alexis Sanchez striking the post, but Liverpool held firm for a result that left them two points below leaders Manchester City -- the only team in the Premier League to have won their first three games -- and three points above Arsenal.
"I thought we were outstanding. We showed everything. You heard Petr Cech getting a round of applause for the saves he made," Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers told Sky Sports. "Overall we kept a good clean sheet, but we're disappointed we didn't win."
A goalless draw seemed an improbable outcome for much of the match, such was the sheer number of chances, but having seen his side beaten 2-0 by West Ham United in their first home game, it was Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger who would have been the most relieved to avoid defeat. "Liverpool had some chances in the first half and nothing in the second," Wenger said. "We had chances in both halves and were unlucky because we scored a regular goal that was ruled out and that was very difficult to understand. We know we can score goals, but we need to do better in the final third."
The evening's first bombshell landed when Arsenal's starting line-up was announced, revealing that Mertesacker and Koscielny would both miss a league game for the first time since a 2-1 loss at home to Wigan Athletic in April 2012. Their deputies, Calum Chambers and Gabriel, had never previously played together at centre-back and Liverpool lost little time attacking them.
Inside the first three minutes, Benteke shot wide from Emre Can's pass and then teed up Philippe Coutinho for a shot that thudded against the crossbar. But Liverpool exhibited defensive frailties of their own and after Sanchez had headed over, Ramsey scored from a sensational Santi Cazorla pass, only to be denied by an offside flag.
The Premier League has admitted that Benteke's goal in last Monday's 1-0 win over Bournemouth should have been ruled out for offside against Coutinho and here again, Liverpool looked to have received a favour from the officials. They also received a series of favours from Chambers, who gave the ball away with troubling regularity, obliging Francis Coquelin to produce a desperate last-ditch tackle on Coutinho on one occasion.
It was then Cech's turn to dig his team out, the Czech goalkeeper pulling off an extraordinary stop to prevent Benteke from poking in Roberto Firmino's low cross at point-blank range and then brilliantly tipping a shot from Coutinho onto the post after the Brazilian had embarrassed Hector Bellerin. Arsenal belatedly settled in the second half, occupying the full width of the pitch when in possession and making deeper inroads in the Liverpool third.
Olivier Giroud volleyed wide, before a slick combination involving Mesut Ozil, Cazorla and Giroud culminated in Sanchez bursting onto a lay-off from the Frenchman and slamming a shot against the post. In search of an extra out ball, Rodgers sent the pacy Jordon Ibe on for Firmino, but Arsenal continued to press, with visiting goalkeeper Simon Mignolet forced to claw away a close-range shot from Giroud and field a curler from Ramsey.
Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain joined the fray for Arsenal in the closing stages and the latter almost crafted a breakthrough, first via a low cross that Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel prodded just wide of his own goal and then with a skidding drive that Mignolet had to parry.
RESULT
Arsenal 0 Liverpool 0
Cech shows his worth
When Arsenal bought Cech for £10m from Chelsea in June, the instant wisdom was that his presence alone could be worth an extra 10 points to the Gunners.
Time will tell, but this was the night when the 33-year-old showed just how important a signing he could be as the Gunners try finally to mount a serious Premier League title challenge.
Cech was castigated to an exaggerated degree after a poor debut in the home defeat by West Ham, but he was magnificent here when Liverpool laid siege to his goal in the first half.
He spread himself brilliantly to turn away Benteke's close-range effort when it seemed certain the Belgium striker would score, then showed he still retains the old athleticism to stretch and tip Coutinho's curling shot against an upright. If any Arsenal fans harboured doubts about his purchase, this was a display to dispel them.
Coutinho + Benteke = Danger
When Liverpool almost won the title in 2014, it was spearheaded by the superb attacking triumvirate of Luis Suarez, Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling.
Liverpool floundered last season with Suarez at Barcelona, Sturridge injured and Sterling disaffected and out of sorts before his £49m move to Manchester City. While there can be no comparisons with that trio, there are so many signs of promise in the understanding already established between Coutinho and £32.5m summer signing Benteke.
Coutinho's darting runs and fast footwork are dangerous on their own while also looking for an outlet in Benteke, whose easy movement shows he is so much more than a big target man. They have shown Liverpool can offer a different type of threat this season - and manager Brendan Rodgers will face an intriguing conundrum when Sturridge finally declares himself fit.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger:
"We scored a regular goal that was disallowed, I don't believe I can do something about it. At the end of the day, the referee cancelled out a regular goal. Like it or don't like it, it is a fact.
"We had chances, but we couldn't finish them off. When you play at home and don't win, people always find problems.
"It is not the result or the complete performance, but we came back in the second half."
Arsenal keeper Petr Cech:
"It is a shame we couldn't snatch the three points, but the game was so crazy - 0-0 we can take. First half, we scored a goal and it was ruled out for offside. That could have changed the game.
"We could have won the game, we could have been losing after the first half."
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers:
"I thought we were very good. First half, Petr Cech was the man of the match.
"Second half, we were always a threat going forward. The players worked ever so hard."
STATBOX
This game was the first time both Mertesacker and Koscielny have missed a Premier League game for Arsenal since April 2012 versus Wigan
Liverpool are the fifth team to start a Premier League game with three or more Brazilians in their XI, after Middlesbrough, Arsenal, Man City and Chelsea
Cech kept only one clean sheet in his final nine Premier League appearances against Liverpool for Chelsea
Liverpool's possession figure of 34% is the lowest they have recorded in the top flight under Rodgers
Arsenal have failed to score in five of their last six Premier League home games
Arsenal have failed to score in their opening two league home games for the first time since August 1979
