Arsenal missed a major opportunity to extend their lead at the top after a goalless draw with Liverpool in north London, played in torrential rain driven by Storm Goretti. The weather amplified the sense of tension: soaked supporters, swirling wind, and sheets of rain created an atmosphere that was expectant and edgy, but ultimately frustrated.
Early on, Arsenal pressed with purpose. Bukayo Saka repeatedly isolated Milos Kerkez, while Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard tested Alisson Becker from range. Despite territory, the decisive final pass eluded them. The conditions added unpredictability — the ball skidded, passes zipped, and control was hard-won.
Liverpool grew into the match and nearly struck first when a mix-up between David Raya and William Saliba allowed Conor Bradley to lift a lob that hit the bar. It was the evening’s clearest warning that Arsenal’s apparent control was fragile.
Two contentious penalty incidents framed the contest: Jeremie Frimpong before the interval and Florian Wirtz after it. Both were waved away, yet each episode underlined how thin the margins were on a rain-lashed night.
After the break, Liverpool asserted themselves. Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister dictated the tempo, with Frimpong repeatedly breaking forward. Arsenal faded, failing to register a shot on target until added time. The visitors’ control of possession drained the energy from the stadium and contributed directly to the Return of the Emirates Groan — an audible mix of anxiety and irritation that has come to define fraught title-race evenings.
For Arsenal, the forward line again misfired. Viktor Gyökeres endured an ineffective display, and when Mikel Arteta turned to his bench, the urgency was unmistakable. Not only did Gabriel Jesus enter the fray; the later introduction of Eze and Madueke in the 78th minute further underscored the manager’s desperation to force a breakthrough in worsening rain.
Late drama arrived in stoppage time. Bradley, already in discomfort after landing awkwardly, was pushed towards the touchline by Gabriel Martinelli as Arsenal chased a winner. The defender departed on a stretcher; tempers flared; cards were shown. The incident was widely labelled “disgraceful”, and it encapsulated the evening’s fraught edge.
Arsenal’s final chance came when Gabriel Magalhães headed wide from a corner. That miss captured the night: opportunity present, composure absent. They remain six points clear yet unconvincing, their second-half display lacking incision, bravery in possession and the decisive moment demanded at the top level.
Liverpool depart encouraged. Despite absences and without a recognised striker, Arne Slot’s side were resolute in defence and composed in possession, with Szoboszlai impressing and Virgil van Dijk marshalling calmly in the deluge.
Mikel Arteta acknowledged the split personality of the performance, noting that on nights when “you cannot win it, you cannot lose it”, avoiding defeat matters. Yet under the rain of Storm Goretti and the weight of expectation, the stalemate felt like a chance gone begging.
The title race stays alive — and, judging by the Return of the Emirates Groan, the leaders know it.
