A friendly reminder to stand back from the Transfer Window as it SLAMS SHUT, otherwise you might get badly pinched.
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A friendly reminder to stand back from the Transfer Window as it SLAMS SHUT, otherwise you might get badly pinched.
I’m hearing that Arsenal have bought every player on the planet and football is therefore cancelled. Follow for more breaking transfer news that you absolutely won’t find anywhere else.
Luis Suarez in the news, you say? 40+1
It would be really neat if Arsenal have something cooking behind the scenes that gets dropped as an absolute BOMBA in the next three hours.
All the people who give Arsenal grief for winning via set pieces are surprisingly quiet when Liverpool have won a match on a free kick despite taking fewer shots, generating less xG, and having fewer touches in the opposing box. Odd, that.
Cristhian Mosquera looked a little unsure of himself on the ball when he first came on but settled really well and played a great game, including making a couple nice passes. He has really impressed in the short time since joining Arsenal.
*on the road, no less
"You should do the same thing as this team that lost (at home) did" is not the strong argument that people think it is.
It may have seemed that in the ground way but that's simply not an accurate description of what happened. For what it's worth, the US commentators didn't say a single word about it, and they'll usually call it out if they sense it.
Agreed. A cagey, tight match between two really good teams. People get wild with their narratives.
Yes, calling people out for being dicks is the same thing as being a dick. What an astute observation. C'mon, friend. Do better.
Not having Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz at all plus Martin Ødegaard only fit for a substitute appearance will do that. That's a lot of attacking quality missing and it makes it tougher to really go at teams.
If it were me, I wouldn't spend my free time trying to taunt strangers online. That's pretty weird behavior, honestly.
I’d like to emphasize the “Liverpool were happy to oblige” part. They could have opened up their play, committed more numbers forward, and taken more chances. They didn’t. They made sure they were solid at the back and through the midfield. It was two really good teams playing a disciplined game.
Not really depressing, for me. More annoying. Can’t fault the approach or the play. Sometimes it just isn’t your day.
I’m not going to have a go at Mikel Arteta for deciding he didn’t want to get into a track meet with Liverpool at Anfield while missing three of four starting-level attackers (Saka, Havertz, Odegaard only fit for 20 minutes of play). And Liverpool were happy to oblige.
You do not exist in reality.
Me? Nah. I’m just calling out people for dumb takes.
You’ve missed the point entirely here.
That’s a really bad way to analyze the sport, though.
A much better approach would be to say that both sides played a disciplined, tactically structured match designed to slow the game down, prevent wide-open play, and not get hit in transition.
If you criticize Arsenal’s “cautious” approach to the match at Anfield and do not, in the same breath, criticize Liverpool for their identical approach, you are nothing more than an unserious narrative-peddler and not worth taking seriously.
Not really sure what you’re going for here!
Hm. Do you know which side had more touches in the opposing box? Which side created slightly more xG? The facts (and watching the match) undermine your pre-conceived narrative rather conclusively. But who am I to stop you from being loud and wrong about the game?
Yeah, it was an even game. I’d give Arsenal the slightest of edges but wouldn’t argue with someone saying it was dead level.
Appreciate the response. It’s always nice to know who to mute and block because they think it’s acceptable to be a dick to strangers online.
It’s not a red card, I agree. But I’d like for it to be called as one, change the way we call the game to get that nonsense out. I want to get cynical fouls from behind, especially one that can injure opponents, out of the game
I am on the record that Wirtz is overrated. Three days does not a season make, but I feel pretty good about that take right now. He’s a quality footballer, let’s not get it twisted. But people talk about him as if he’s a ln unstoppable superstar wizard. He’s not.
Why do you think it’s acceptable behavior to call strangers names on the internet and taunt them? Fucking weird behavior. And that’s before we get to your “analysis” that demonstrates you know nothing about the game.
Liverpool, who are supposed to have this high-flying, lethal attack, are being let off the hook for creating basically nothing at home against Arsenal because of a worldie, 1 in 100 free kick.
Liverpool defended well against an Arsenal attack missing three of their best attackers, if not their three best. Ho hum.
STOP SAYING LACK OF AMBITION! Arsenal played a really good game at Anfield. They completely shut down Liverpool's vaunted attack. Do you want them to be more open, give up 2 or 3, then try to match that total without Saka and Havertz and an injured Odegaard coming of the bench?
Arsenal had almost double the number of touches in the Liverpool box as Liverpool had in the Arsenal box. Which team "went for it," again?
It's very annoying to lose like that. Szoboszlai probably scores that 1 in 100 tries.
It's poor analysis to take Arsenal to task for not having quite enough at the attacking end when they have neither Saka nor Havertz and only get 20 minutes from Martin Odegaard and Ebere Eze.
Really don't see how that's not a handball on Szoboszlai for the right arm across his chest, hitting the ball with his fingers. That's not really a natural position.
That should be a red card for Endo. That's not fucking soccer and really dangerous to pull somebody down like that. Get that crap out of the game.
After a nervous start from Mosquera, he's been quite good.
And now Jurrien Timber is down, needing treatment.
Max Dowman replaces Noni Madueke.
I would definitely like to see a replay of whether that ball actually went out on the near-side or not.
Hey, uh. Did Kerkez handle that ball from the ground on the endline?
Once again, Liverpool get away with a lot of little shoves that are all fouls. Another one into Eze's back.
Thought that was the moment for Eze.
Of course.
This is not a good place to give away a free kick.
Really good defensive recovery from Arsenal from an unsettled situation.
Konate limps off, replaced by Joe Gomez.
Arsenal players have slipped three or four times at important moments.
Declan Rice single-handedly flipped the field, which has led to Arsenal setting up in the attacking third.
Liverpool get away with a lot of little shoves to put opponents off balance and create space. It's very annoying because they're all fouls and they all create big moments that shouldn't happen.
Mikel Merino and Gabriel Martinelli make way for Martin Odegaard and Ebere Eze.
Martin Odegaard and Ebere Eze readying to come on for Arsenal.
"Check them feet out," says Lee Dixon, as Riccardo Calafiori knicks the ball off Mo Salah.
Feels like it's about time for Mikel Arteta to make a sub.
That's a joke of a yellow card to Gyokeres. He barely grazes VVDs foot and the CB goes down screaming like he's been shot. Big, tough CB my butt.
Remember when they called a foul and a penalty on William Saliba for something like Konate just did to Calafiori? Win the header then catch the opponent in the head?
You can't really say "that's a definite penalty if the flag isn't up" because Ekitike isn't in the position to get to that rebound first without being yards offside.
Liverpool have the ball in the back of the net, but the flag is up for offside. Good save from David Raya initially. Ekitike WELL offside.
That's not very nice at all from Mac Allister. Was always going to be second to that ball and so he launched himself into Martinelli instead.
I will take Gabriel Martinelli not contributing much going forward in exchange for keeping Mo Salah quiet on the same side of the pitch. Especially at Anfield.
Excellent work from Mikel Merino to win that ball and start the move the other way. Arsenal win a corner as a result.
Great recognition and defensive work from Gabriel Martinelli. Saw that Calafiori had slipped too far up the pitch and tracked back to easily cut out the pass, end the danger. Really good play that will go overlooked.
Very much not a fan of Arsenal having a throw in by the attacking corner flag and winding up cycling the ball all the way back into their own half and losing it around midfield. Gabriel needed to go back to Calafiori on the touchline, I think. The ball back and central wasn't it.
Mon dieu, Declan Rice. He's so fucking good.
Does Virgil van Dijk ever stop complaining to the referee about everything?
Arsenal a bit fortunate there. As soon as Wirtz was able to turn around near the halfway line, I said "that's not good" but luckily they got the passing weight wrong.
The Anfield support braying about every single physical tussle is annoying AF.
Remember, Arsenal are playing without arguably their three best attackers - Odegaard, Saka, Havertz. And Saliba had went off injured in the fourth minute.
Halftime. 0-0. Really solid half of football from Arsenal. Neither side giving the other much of anything.
Anh. Liverpool players have gone over easily a couple times and the ref didn't buy it. He's generally letting them play.
Great play from Calafiori to read that danger. Excellent, excellent defending.
He knicked the ball away cleanly at first, but then immediately grabbed him and held on - that was the foul.
*whispers* Ekitike fouled Zubimendi first and for the entire time in that tussle
It looked like Mac Allister just stopped an Arsenal counterattack by leaning into the ball and stopping it with an arm in much the same way as was called a penalty against James Tarkowski in MW1. Would like to see a replay of that.
Lovely attacking move from Arsenal. Key block from VVD. Timber hit that shot like it had insulted his family.
let. noni. cook.
Ball don't lie, again. Gakpo fouled Zubimendi to win the ball, then Zubimendi may have fouled him back. Liverpool's free kick sails out of play.
van Dijk won that ball because he blasted Zubimendi in the back of the head as he stepped up to pressure. The pass from Raya wasn't great, either. But the forearm to the back of the head was an uncalled foul.
Multiple people pointed out it was a foul throw, too. Plus ca change.
This has been a solid half from Arsenal, especially given William Saliba going off injured in the fourth minute. I'm going to be so upset when Liverpool score from their first shot on target.
Absolutely that's a yellow card! It doesn't matter if it's accidental, Lee! Opponent running free through the middle into the final third and at the box gets tripped from behind. Yellow card. All day.
That Liverpool throw-in was taken from at least 10 yards further up the pitch from where the ball went out.
It's going to be very annoying if Liverpool score from a free kick won with both players fouling each other. Fortunately, ball don't lie. Wirtz sends the free kick harmlessly out for a goal kick.
That Mosquera progressive diagonal pass made my heart stop for a second, but it was excellent.
Oh my goodness Kerkez has no chance of keeping up with Madueke. Kerkez did really well to barely recover, but Arsenal should be HAMMERING that matchup.
The Liverpool crowd hooting and hollering after Calafiori knicked the ball away cleanly and Mo Salah fell down. Tell me you don't know ball without telling me you don't know ball.
That Mosquera turnover happened because he was shoved from behind. That was a foul. Nothing came of it, but if Liverpool had countered and scored, I would have been livid.
Think Martinelli has to try that ball between the CBs for Gyokeres' run. Put them to the test. Let Big Vik battle for strength. Make them get the challenge right.
Just once I'd like for Arsenal to play Liverpool with something close to their full strength lineup.
At a genuine loss for words with all these Arsenal players getting hurt three matches into the season. Inexplicably bad luck.
And now William Saliba has to come off, minutes into the match. Cristhian Mosquera to replace him.
With this Arsenal lineup and setup, this match is going to be, like, 70% Liverpool possession. By Arteta's design, I think.
Let's not do anything daft in the opening 10-15 minutes, yeah?
Liverpool and Arsenal underway from Anfield. #COYG
I guess technically they said they think it'll be a draw but if they had to pick a winner, they'd pick Arsenal.
I do not like the NBC desk picking Arsenal to beat Liverpool at Anfield. Bold picks! Arsenal haven't won there in the Premier League since 2012!
Arsenal XI to face Liverpool. Let’s go lads! #COYG
Ah, I get it now! Notice how Xavi Simons is half-lit and Spurs have used the same lyric from the Arsenal Eze video. A subtle nod to how they’re always in our shadow.
You tried so pathetically hard and the best you could come up with was some recycled, schoolchild banter? Take a lap. In fact, take two.