LONDON: The Premier League title race is now a three-way fight after a 2-2 staiemate between Arsenal and Liverpool allowed champions Manchester City to regain top spot – and even offer encour4agement to Aston Villa and Chelsea.

Arsenal led at halftime with goals from Bukayo Saka and new signing Mikel Merino sandwiching a header from Virgil van Dijk for Liverpool who secured their point with a late second equaliser from Mo Salah.

Liverpool may eventually regret not taking greater advantage of Arsenal’s defensive injury crisis. This frustration was illustrated by yellow cards for dissent for manager Arne Slot and assistant Sipke Hulshoff. Arsenal, by comparison, will hail their defensive resistance as more evidence of the mentality which can see the struggle through to a triumphant conclusion.

Slot said: “It was eventful, exciting. Arsenal, in the first half, were better than us. We were not happy to concede just before haftime but maybe they deserved it. We had one day less to prepare so if I look at how strong we were in the second half and being twice down in this stadium then getting a point is still a good thing. It’s good to see where we are not only in terms of results but the way we play.”

Liverpool’s hope of extending their club record by winning all six away matches in all competitions came under immediate threat. Van Dijk was lucky to escape a yellow card after kicking out at Kai Havertz but there was no escape for the Reds when fit-again Bukayo Saka burst through to score his third league goal in the ninth minute.

Saka, Arsenal’s captain in the continuing absence of injured Martin Odegaard, found it almost too easy to escape the attention of both Van Dijk and Andrew Robertson. His 50th Premier League career goal was the first Liverpool had conceded in the opening half of a league match.

Liverpool needed nine minutes to snap back through their own captain. Luis Diaz flicked on a corner from Trent Alexander-Arnold and Van Dijk headed home his first goal of term. Arsenal, specialists in set piece work, would have been disappointed to be punished at their own game. They may also have been disappointed that Van Dijk was still on the pitch.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta had set up his team in an intriguing fashion with Havertz and Leandro Trossard as a double false nine and wingers Saka and Martinelli high up the pitch. Gradually they regained momentum. Havertz was unable to force home one half-chance and then shot high over the bar as his team-mates claimed a penalty in vain for a challenge by Konate on Gabriel Martinelli.

Arteta held his head in his hands but he was soon celebrating. Summer signing Mikel Merino headed Arsenal back in front with his first Gunners goal just before halftime from a Declan Rice free-kick. A tight VAR decision went in Merino’s favour thanks to Van Dijk’s boot.

Arsenal had defended effectively despite the injury absences of William Saliba and Riccardo Calafiori but further defensive problems arose in the second half with injuries forcing the departures of Gabriel and Jurrien Timber.

This provded the two managers with new ammunition for their tactical duel. Liverpool, encouraged, made a triple attacking substitution with introductions of Szobszlai, Cody Gakpo and Kostas Tsimikas while Arsenal responded by retreating into a defensive 4-4-2 shape. It was not effective enough when Liverpool cxaaught them on the transition. Alexander-Arnold’s deep pass freed Darwin Nunez to set up Salah for his 163rd Premier League goal.

Havertz protested furiously at having a ‘winner’ disallowed for an earlier foul by Jakub Kiwior but the draw was a fair result for another high-octane Premier League scrap.

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