Liverpool may have lifted the Premier League crown, but Arsenal reminded them theyβre not done yet, staging a fierce comeback from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw in a gripping showdown at Anfield.
The afternoon began with applause as Arsenal formed a guard of honour for the newly-crowned champions. But once the pleasantries ended, Liverpool roared into action. Within 90 seconds, Cody Gakpo and Luis DΓaz stunned the visitors with a quickfire double that looked to put the game beyond reach.
For a while, Arsenal appeared shell-shocked. Still reeling from their Champions League semi-final exit earlier in the week, they struggled for rhythm in the first half. But Mikel Artetaβs side emerged from the interval with renewed grit and something to prove.
Gabriel Martinelli gave Arsenal a lifeline just after the break, glancing in Leandro Trossardβs cross with precision. Then came the equalizer, Martin Γdegaardβs thunderous strike rattled the woodwork, and Mikel Merino was quickest to react, nodding in the rebound to silence Anfield.
Merinoβs day took a turn minutes later when he was shown red for a rash tackle on Dominik Szoboszlai. But down to ten men, Arsenal dug deep. Γdegaard nearly won it in stoppage time, curling just wide, before Liverpool thought they had stolen it, only for Andy Robertsonβs late goal to be ruled out for a foul.
βIt was a great game of football,β said Liverpool boss Arne Slot, who made history as the Premier Leagueβs first Dutch title-winning manager. βIt didnβt matter too much, but itβs about prestige.β The champions now sit on 83 points, 15 ahead of Arsenal, whose own European future remains uncertain.
Arteta was blunt post-match: βThe first half was nowhere near the level. Thatβs not acceptable.β Yet despite the disappointment, his teamβs fightback showed they havenβt lost their edge.
There were boos too, notably when Trent Alexander-Arnold entered the fray for what could be his final Anfield appearance. Some fans made their feelings known after the defenderβs announcement that he would leave on a free transfer this summer.
