The second game in the trilogy of games against Liverpool, and both teams were resting players in anticipation of the Champions League game on Tuesday. Liverpool left Gerrard and Torres on the bench, and Arsenal kept Hleb and Adebayor there. After the frustration of Wednesday's game, this was an important chance to put things right, and go into Tuesday's Champions League decider in the right frame of mind. Both team's selections made it clear that this was not the highest priority, and that fact helped to set the tone for the game - which was not exactly played at full pelt.The first half was a pretty turgid affair from Arsenal - the Liverpool second string showing more quality and enthusiasm than the proper players had managed a few days before. Arsenal didn't seem at the races for much of the half, and we seemed in particular to be giving Peter Crouch up front far too much room. Just when it looked like we would get away with getting to half time unscathed, Crouch got onto the end of an absolutely enormous hoof downfield from Reina, and did very well to turn the Arsenal central defence and score. To be fair to him, Crouch had a decent game all in all, but the Arsenal defending again left a lot to be desired for the goal.
In the second half, Arsenal stepped things up significantly more, pushing players forward, and seemingly having woken up after conceding the goal. After about 10 minutes of the second half, Nicolas Bendtner got up well to meet a Fabregas free kick, and scored. It was interesting that, when he ran to the corner flag in celebration, most of the other players just ran back to the halfway line instead of joining him - clearly a well liked player!
For the rest of the half, Arsenal kept the pressure on, but in the end, just couldn't break down the incessant, 10 men behind the ball Liverpool defending. Towards the end, Gerrard, Torres, Hleb and Adebayor all came on, so both teams finished the game stronger than they had started it. The referee wasn't exactly kind to Arsenal - he seemed not to be capable of giving us any decisions, and I wondered in particular what various Liverpool players would have needed to do to Theo Walcott to concede a free kick. Several of them seemed intent on kicking him all over the pitch, and the referee failed to notice or act accordingly.
But, to blame the referee would overlook some of Arsenal's own shortcomings, and the way that Liverpool held up very well in defence. It was another frustrating game to watch, and Liverpool really are a very dull team when they come up against a team that they know are a match for them - they keep it boringly tight, and it is all defence, defence, defence. So, after 3 1-1 draws this season, it all rolls onto Tuesday night at Anfield. It probably won't be a classic game (as Liverpool merely need to keep a clean sheet, we could be in for a snoozefest), but I can't help feeling it would be something of a travesty if such a dull team were to prevail.
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