Damp Squib At Home

Arsenal 0–0 Liverpool: Six Clear, But No Spark

Six points clear at the summit, eight unbeaten, and still somehow walking away feeling a little short-changed. Arsenal were held to a goalless draw by Liverpool at the Emirates on a night that promised fire but delivered frost.

Against the reigning champions, this was more about control than creativity. Chances were scarce, rhythm elusive, and although the point stretches our lead at the top, it was one of those evenings where you half-expected something dramatic that never quite arrived.

EARLY PRESSURE

On a wet, windy and properly wintry night in north London, the pre-match message blared loud and clear: Home Is Where The Heat Is. The Emirates glowed red and white at kick-off, and for the first 20 minutes the players responded.

We penned Liverpool back early. Declan Rice swung a deep cross towards the far post and Jurrien Timber nodded it back across goal — begging for a poacher's touch that never came. Bukayo Saka then lit up the right flank, skinning Milos Kerkez, darting to the byline and fizzing a low cross that arrived just behind Martin Zubimendi. Moments later, Saka tested Alisson from range, but the Brazilian smothered it cleanly despite the greasy surface.

It felt like the start of something. It turned out to be the peak.

BRADLEY HITS THE BAR

As the storm clouds eased, so did our grip. Liverpool steadied themselves and began to see more of the ball — and very nearly punished us.

A rare moment of miscommunication saw William Saliba's backpass put David Raya under pressure. The clearance was hurried, straight into the path of Conor Bradley, who delicately lifted his shot over Raya and onto the bar. Timber, again alert, threw himself in the way of Cody Gakpo's follow-up.

At the other end, Rice fizzed a low effort that was comfortably saved, and Saka found himself crowded out just as he shaped to shoot. After that bright opening, the half fizzled into something far more forgettable.

LIVERPOOL PEG US BACK

If the first half drifted, the second half stalled completely. No shots from either side until the hour mark, when Dominik Szoboszlai ballooned a free-kick into the night sky.

Liverpool were now on top, hogging possession — close to 75% after the break — with Jeremie Frimpong's pace causing the odd moment of unease down our right. Mikel Arteta rolled the dice, introducing Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, Ebere Eze and Noni Madueke in search of incision.

Madueke's first involvement was encouraging: a sharp, low cross fizzed across the six-yard box, crying out for a touch that never came. Szoboszlai curled another free-kick narrowly wide as the clock ticked down.

In stoppage time we finally stirred. Jesus forced a save with a late header, Martinelli flashed an effort from a tight angle — and that, frustratingly, was that.

THE VERDICT

Not pretty. Not fluent. But not damaging either.

On a night when we were well short of our attacking best, the clean sheet mattered. The point matters. Six points clear still matters. Title races are built on nights like these as much as the glamorous ones — even if this felt like two points left somewhere in the cold.

WHAT'S NEXT

There's no time to brood. We now face a relentless run: four away games, four competitions, ten days.

First, it's Portsmouth at Fratton Park in the FA Cup third round on Sunday. Then comes a Carabao Cup semi-final first leg away to Chelsea next Wednesday. Premier League duty follows at Nottingham Forest before a Champions League trip to Inter Milan.

No heat at home this time — just pressure on the road.