1) Are these sides genuinely title contenders?
Both will argue they are but, even this early in the season, doubts have already surfaced. As sumptuous as Arsenal are as an attacking force – they were wrongly denied the opening goal here by an assistant’s flag, were much improved in the second half and Alexis Sánchez also smacked the woodwork – they surely cannot be this open defensively and expect to claim the title. The previous week, at Crystal Palace, the game had been a blur of end-to-end attacks with grit only applied belatedly, as if reluctantly. As entertaining as it all is, it is unlikely to win championships. Likewise, can Liverpool be this profligate and hope to win the Premier League? Philippe Coutinho struck a post and the bar, Christian Benteke was denied from close range, and too many chances were spurned. The suspicion nagged that Manchester City or Chelsea would have exploited the home side’s soft underbelly. Liverpool did not.
2) A glimpse at Arsenal’s back-up defence rings alarm bells …
Arsène Wenger would argue only ill luck had cost him his first-choice centre-halves, with Laurent Koscielny nursing a sore back and Per Mertesacker ill, but all those familiar calls for the addition of one more sturdy defender during the window screamed out a little louder here as the understudies wilted. Calum Chambers, bullied by Benteke’s brutal blend of pace and power, shrunk at times while Gabriel Paulista was jittery at the youngster’s side. Nerves were hardly surprising given the pair had only previously played together in the middle in the Emirates Cup against Wolfsburg but, hassled and harassed, they were a mess of individual errors whenever Liverpool tore at them. Gabriel did at least muscle Coutinho out of possession as the forward bore down on goal, but even the full-backs were prone to errors and this was a rearguard living on the edge, utterly reliant upon Petr Cech covering their backs. It all smacked too much of vulnerability when Arsenal required strength.
3) … though the side badly was crying out midfield strength
Not that the centre-halves were afforded much protection from their midfield shield, where Francis Coquelin was overworked and, at times, overwhelmed by the brilliance of Coutinho and James Milner’s energy. The Frenchman, effectively only a regular for half a season at this level prior to this campaign, came into this game having conjured more interceptions – 77 – than any other player in the top flight this calendar year. But, while he attempted to break up play and check Liverpool’s runners from deep as best he could, there were too many gaps for him to plug. Santi Cazorla, such a wonderful passer, was no destructive midfield force at Coquelin’s side. Gary Neville had been left frothing at the mouth back in the Sky studio prior to kick-off bemoaning Arsenal’s apparent unwillingness to add “power and strength to the middle”. This was merely confirmation of all he had feared.
4) Liverpool demonstrate early-season balance
Liverpool had arrived with their own injury problems –Jordan Henderson and Adam Lallana were out of contention – but there was actually a better balance to their set-up revolving around Milner’s industry, Lucas Leiva’s bustle and the creative fulcrum that was Coutinho, particularly in the first half. The little Brazilian constantly caught the eye and can be their inspiration this season if the unit functions as a whole. It will be interesting to see if Lucas is now retained beyond the transfer deadline. Certainly, the fact this lineup boasted progressive full-backs in Nathaniel Clyne and Joe Gomez, ever eager to provide natural width in an otherwise rather cramped system, bodes well while the ball can be belted upfield to Benteke in the belief, rather than hope, it will stick. They remain a team in transition but this draw was arguably more promising than their victories against Stoke and Bournemouth.
5) Despite his debut, Petr Cech has still got it
Any Arsenal fan still dismayed by Cech’s errors in that opening weekend defeat at home to West Ham can at least rest a little easier. The goalkeeper’s pair of first-half saves here defied belief, reminders of the pedigree Wenger prised from Stamford Bridge over the summer and at a snip, £10m. Even Cech himself seemed surprised to have thwarted Benteke with that strong left hand from point-blank range after Roberto Firmino’s low centre. Indeed, Brendan Rodgers was already up and celebrating in the dugout in anticipation of the goal. The brilliance of that stop actually rather detracted from the subsequent finger-tip save which turned Coutinho’s curled attempt on to the far post in stoppage time at the end of the period. This was merely confirmation his arrival had, indeed, solved a familiar Arsenal problem. Other frailties along the spine of the team were more disconcerting.
