“Arsenal still in control in the title race; Liverpool need to improve.”

Arsenal missed an opportunity to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League to eight points after being held to a goalless draw by reigning champions Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday evening.

The Gunners largely dominated proceedings in the first half, but it was Reds defender Conor Bradley who came closest to opening the scoring, rattling the crossbar in the 27th minute following a rare defensive lapse involving William Saliba and David Raya.

Liverpool, forced to play without a recognised centre forward due to Hugo Ekitike’s injury, grew into the game after the interval but were unable to fashion any clear-cut opportunities. Florian Wirtz’s tumble under a challenge from Leandro Trossard in the penalty area sparked brief VAR consideration, but no penalty was awarded.

Dominik Szoboszlai, whose stunning free kick had secured the reverse fixture for Liverpool in August, threatened a similar moment late on with a long-range effort that skimmed the crossbar. However, neither side could break the deadlock. In stoppage time, Bradley was stretchered off following a collision with Gabriel Martinelli, which briefly erupted into a heated confrontation on the pitch.

Arsenal now lead the table by six points over Manchester City and Aston Villa, who are separated only by goal difference. While the Gunners maintain their position at the summit, there is a sense of missed opportunity, as victory could have capitalised on City’s earlier 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion.

Despite the build-up, including a pre-match light show and hype video, Arsenal struggled to convert dominance into goals. Bukayo Saka troubled Liverpool left-back Milos Kerkez, yet Alisson rarely faced a serious test. Arsenal recorded an expected goals (xG) total of just 0.52 from nine shots, while Liverpool’s xG was 0.36.

Liverpool remain without a Premier League win in 2026, highlighting their ongoing difficulties in attack. Yet defensively, Arne Slot’s side impressed, limiting Arsenal to an xG of 0.57 and demonstrating improved organisation following a turbulent November in which they conceded ten goals across three matches. The absence of Ekitike and Mohamed Salah has hindered Liverpool’s offensive threat, but the imminent return of both players may offer some relief.

Arsenal striker Viktor Gyökeres, meanwhile, continues a goal drought from open play stretching to ten matches. He managed just eight touches across 64 minutes, with no meaningful contributions between the 11th and 40th minutes. With Gabriel Jesus fit and Kai Havertz poised to return, Mikel Arteta may soon need to consider alternative attacking options.

The clash underlined the gulf in squad depth: Arsenal’s bench featured multiple high-quality options, including summer signings Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke, whereas Liverpool’s most experienced attacking threat was Federico Chiesa, who has logged only 228 minutes in the top flight this season. Injuries to key players, including Alexander Isak and Giovanni Leoni, further compound the Reds’ challenges.

Nevertheless, Liverpool’s disciplined performance offered signs of promise. While Slot has work to do to reignite the attacking verve that carried his side to last season’s title, the defensive solidity and team cohesion displayed at the Emirates will provide a blueprint for the remainder of the campaign.

Match Statistics

Arsenal remain firmly in control of the title race, but the draw offers a stark reminder that momentum can never be taken for granted, while Liverpool continue to search for solutions in attack without compromising their newfound defensive stability.