Cech rescues a point for Arsenal... but Giroud can't make it three
Arsene Wenger will watch several repeats of Arsenal's goalless draw with Liverpool over the next few days, but he will still struggle to make any sense of his side’s performance on Monday night.
On the one hand, the Gunners owe their goalkeeper Petr Cech for ensuring that Liverpool were not in the lead and out of sight by half-time after a woeful defensive display by the hosts in the first 45 minutes.
Against that, an offside flag denied Aaron Ramsey a legitimate goal that could have completely changed the game. A second-half surge on the Liverpool goal also included Alexis Sanchez striking against the post and Olivier Giroud missing a glorious chance from close range.
In many ways it was a performance that told the story of Arsenal’s summer.
They have signed a top quality goalkeeper in Cech; a proven winner and could be worth more than 10 points a season.
But at the other end they are missing the cutting edge to turn one point into three on nights like this. It could be the difference between finishing first and second at the end of the campaign.
Cech, 33, endured a nightmare Premier League debut in the 2-0 defeat to West Ham on the opening weekend, but he was at his very best here.
The former Chelsea man made two jaw-dropping saves that few goalkeepers in the world would be able to replicate.
First, he flung himself across his goalline to deny Christian Benteke from point-blank range as the Liverpool bench were already celebrating a near-certain opener.
Moments later, Cech was at full stretch again as he got the slightest of touches on Philippe Coutinho’s curler to divert the ball on to the post.
A clean sheet was the product of upgrading from a good selection of goalkeepers to one of the best around when Cech joined Arsenal for £10m in June.
It also bailed out a defence that Wenger admitted in his post-match press conference was “insecure” after the late withdrawal of first-choice centre-backs Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny due to injury.
Gabriel and Calum Chambers struggled to deal with Liverpool’s pace and movement in the first half, but to their credit looked far more organised after the restart as Arsenal took charge of the game.
But for the fifth time in their last six home matches, Arsenal could not find the back of the net. They have found it difficult to break down teams that defend deep and with men behind the ball.
The hosts did put the ball in the net in the first-half here but Aaron Ramsey’s strike was wrongly ruled out for offside.
Wenger admits that the start to Arsenal’s season has been “very average” and while he will in part curse some bad luck, he will put it more down to a lack of ruthlessness in the final third.
Alexis Sanchez struck the post from a tight angle after the break before the best chance fell to Olivier Giroud. Making his 100th Premier League appearance, the Frenchman stretched and stabbed the ball towards goal from eight yards, only to be denied by a fine save from Simon Mignolet.
Giroud has scored 42 league goals in his Arsenal career, an impressive return. This, though, was yet another game in which he confirmed his status as good but not great.
With Arsenal chasing a winning goal, he was replaced by Theo Walcott in the 73rd minute. Would Manchester City do the same with Sergio Aguero in the same situation?
On the day when Karim Benzema confirmed he will be staying at Real Madrid, Wenger now has eight days to sign a leading striker to fire Arsenal to their first title since 2004.
Arsenal are so close, but Wenger’s squad is not yet complete. He has the top quality goalkeeper he needs, but the Gunners still need a striker of that level at the other end of the pitch.
Arsene Wenger will watch several repeats of Arsenal's goalless draw with Liverpool over the next few days, but he will still struggle to make any sense of his side’s performance on Monday night.
On the one hand, the Gunners owe their goalkeeper Petr Cech for ensuring that Liverpool were not in the lead and out of sight by half-time after a woeful defensive display by the hosts in the first 45 minutes.
Against that, an offside flag denied Aaron Ramsey a legitimate goal that could have completely changed the game. A second-half surge on the Liverpool goal also included Alexis Sanchez striking against the post and Olivier Giroud missing a glorious chance from close range.
In many ways it was a performance that told the story of Arsenal’s summer.
They have signed a top quality goalkeeper in Cech; a proven winner and could be worth more than 10 points a season.
But at the other end they are missing the cutting edge to turn one point into three on nights like this. It could be the difference between finishing first and second at the end of the campaign.
Cech, 33, endured a nightmare Premier League debut in the 2-0 defeat to West Ham on the opening weekend, but he was at his very best here.
The former Chelsea man made two jaw-dropping saves that few goalkeepers in the world would be able to replicate.
First, he flung himself across his goalline to deny Christian Benteke from point-blank range as the Liverpool bench were already celebrating a near-certain opener.
Moments later, Cech was at full stretch again as he got the slightest of touches on Philippe Coutinho’s curler to divert the ball on to the post.
A clean sheet was the product of upgrading from a good selection of goalkeepers to one of the best around when Cech joined Arsenal for £10m in June.
It also bailed out a defence that Wenger admitted in his post-match press conference was “insecure” after the late withdrawal of first-choice centre-backs Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny due to injury.
Gabriel and Calum Chambers struggled to deal with Liverpool’s pace and movement in the first half, but to their credit looked far more organised after the restart as Arsenal took charge of the game.
But for the fifth time in their last six home matches, Arsenal could not find the back of the net. They have found it difficult to break down teams that defend deep and with men behind the ball.
The hosts did put the ball in the net in the first-half here but Aaron Ramsey’s strike was wrongly ruled out for offside.
Wenger admits that the start to Arsenal’s season has been “very average” and while he will in part curse some bad luck, he will put it more down to a lack of ruthlessness in the final third.
Alexis Sanchez struck the post from a tight angle after the break before the best chance fell to Olivier Giroud. Making his 100th Premier League appearance, the Frenchman stretched and stabbed the ball towards goal from eight yards, only to be denied by a fine save from Simon Mignolet.
Giroud has scored 42 league goals in his Arsenal career, an impressive return. This, though, was yet another game in which he confirmed his status as good but not great.
With Arsenal chasing a winning goal, he was replaced by Theo Walcott in the 73rd minute. Would Manchester City do the same with Sergio Aguero in the same situation?
On the day when Karim Benzema confirmed he will be staying at Real Madrid, Wenger now has eight days to sign a leading striker to fire Arsenal to their first title since 2004.
Arsenal are so close, but Wenger’s squad is not yet complete. He has the top quality goalkeeper he needs, but the Gunners still need a striker of that level at the other end of the pitch.
.Ramsey ge goal 1ka offside nemei eka dunneth naene
.Cech patta..
.
karana deyak karanna thawa 6 days thiyenne
