January 9, 2026 | Premier League | Emirates Stadium
Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to six points with a goalless draw against Liverpool, but the overriding emotion at full-time was frustration rather than satisfaction. With Manchester City having dropped points midweek, this felt like a golden opportunity to stretch the gap to eight. Instead, Arsenal settled for a clean sheet and a point that keeps them in control—but leaves a lingering sense of “what might have been.”
Arsenal started brightly, dominating possession and territory in the first half. They pinned Liverpool deep, forced them into a cautious, compact shape, and created the better moments. Bukayo Saka was a constant menace on the right, while Martin Ødegaard pulled the strings centrally. Yet the final action repeatedly broke down—mistimed runs, overhit passes, or sharp Liverpool defending.
The clearest chance of the half actually fell to the visitors. A moment of confusion between William Saliba and David Raya allowed Conor Bradley in, and only the crossbar saved Arsenal from an embarrassing opener.
At the other end, Declan Rice delivered a dangerous ball into the box that went untouched—a recurring theme of the night: Arsenal’s lack of presence and anticipation in key attacking areas. Viktor Gyökeres, in particular, struggled to impose himself, finishing the half with minimal involvement and little chemistry with those around him.
The second half told a very different story. Liverpool emerged with far more intensity, overloading midfield and flipping the flow of the game. Arsenal, normally so secure in possession, became sloppy and reactive. Passes went astray, control disappeared, and Liverpool dominated the ball for long stretches.
Yet for all that possession, Liverpool rarely threatened. Their dominance was sterile—no shots on target, no real danger. Arsenal’s defensive structure held firm, even if their grip on the game had vanished.
Mikel Arteta turned to his bench, but the changes failed to shift the balance. Late moments—a pulled-back cross, a last-gasp corner—offered hope, but nothing truly suggested a breakthrough was coming.
🏴 Highlights: Arsenal 0-0 Liverpool
— 𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇 𝐃𝐀𝐘! (@TodayMatchHD) January 9, 2026
• Arsenal miss the chance to go eight points clear at the top of the Premier League. pic.twitter.com/TUk86u6Nom
Talking Points
- A Missed Opportunity — But Not a Disaster Arsenal won’t look back on this as a fatal result, but it was a chance to land a psychological blow. Against a depleted Liverpool side, at home, with City slipping—this felt like a moment to be seized.
- Two Halves, Two Performances. The contrast was stark. Arsenal were composed and assertive before the break, then imprecise and overrun after it. Losing both possession and pass accuracy so dramatically is rare for this team—and worrying.
- Gyökeres’ Struggles Continue: Eight touches, little movement, minimal connection with teammates. While service wasn’t perfect, Arsenal need more from their centre-forward—especially in games where breaking down a deep block is essential.
- Midfield Outnumbered Liverpool’s adjustment after half-time—effectively crowding central areas—worked. Arsenal couldn’t adapt quickly enough, despite having options on the bench. That inability to regain control was the defining feature of the match.
- Defensive Solidity Still Intact. For all the frustration, Arsenal kept another clean sheet and limited Liverpool to no shots on target. Even on an off night, the defensive foundation remains strong—and that matters in a title race.
- Martinelli situation. A brief word on the Gabriel Martinelli incident involving Conor Bradley late on. It didn’t sit well at the time, and Martinelli deserved the booking, but it’s hard to believe he understood the seriousness of the injury in that moment. He’s not a player known for malice or spite, and this didn’t feel like an act of intent so much as a split-second decision driven by adrenaline and the desire to keep the game alive. Liverpool’s reaction was understandable, but this looked far more like a heat-of-the-moment lapse than anything sinister.
Final Thoughts
This wasn’t the night many hoped for, but title challenges are rarely smooth or cinematic. Arsenal are still top, still in control of their own destiny, and still showing resilience even when performances dip.
If this is one of the “downs” in the run-in—a draw against a big rival, with a clean sheet—then it could be far worse. The key now is learning from that second-half collapse in control and responding quickly when the league resumes.
Opportunities were missed. Pressure wasn’t fully applied. But the race is very much on—and Arsenal remain the pace-setters.
COYG ❤️⚪
Next up: The chase continues.
