Liverpool chalk up a third straight clean sheet after emerging from the Emirates with a goalless draw. Arsenal fail to score at home yet again, with Petr Cech keeping the Merseysiders at bay with a string of vital first-half stops.
Arsenal Stutter at Home Again
Despite boasting nearly two-thirds of the possession (66%) and fashioning 19 shots at goal, the Gunners were unable to breach Liverpool’s unyielding rearguard. Astonishingly, the north London club have now drawn blanks in five of their last six matches at the Emirates across all competitions, which might encourage Arsene Wenger to switch things up for their next home encounter.
In light of Per Mertesacker (illness) and Laurent Koscielny sitting out this encounter, Gabriel and Callum Chambers were drafted into central defence. The former was the only member of Arsenal’s back five not to receive a single bonus point, with Petr Cech claiming the maximum three – the former Chelsea shot-stopper amassed 11 points in all, having rebuffed the Reds’ attacks with eight saves.
Alexis Sanchez’s came close to breaking the deadlock when he clattered the upright from close range following a well-worked move, while Aaron Ramsey’s 6% ownership were miffed to witness his goal wrongly disallowed for offside. Both players will fancy their chances of gracing the scoresheet soon, though, given that they face a trip to Newcastle United and home tie against Stoke City in the next two Gameweeks.
Reds Rearguard Holds Steady
Liverpool continued their unbeaten start to the season after carding a third successive clean sheet. Joe Gomez (4.7) turned out a performance that belied his years, quelling the hosts’ threat down their right flank by virtue of his excellent positioning and impressive recovery speed. On last night’s showing, the ex-Charlton defender looks likely to retain his starting role in the left-back berth ahead of Alberto Moreno, rendering him the most valuable route into the Merseysiders’ defence. Three favourable home ties in the next four Gameweeks (WHU, NOR, AVL) only serve to strengthen his claim for inclusion.
Philippe Coutinho (8.1) fired a rasping strike onto the underside of the crossbar in the early exchanges, before forcing a superb fingertip-save out of Cech minutes before the break. No midfielder has attempted more shots than the Brazil international this term (15), which certainly bodes well for a Gameweek 4 clash against a Hammers outfit that shipped four goals last time out and are devoid of Carl Jenkinson and Adrian through suspension.
Christian Benteke (8.5) spurned a golden opportunity to afford Liverpool the lead in the first period but proved effective as the spearhead to their attack. Given that the other candidates around Benteke’s price tag (Harry Kane, Romelu Lukaku and Graziano Pelle) also blanked this Gameweek, his 40% ownership will feel confident ahead of the above-mentioned trio of Anfield showdowns.
