Cech mate as Arsenal draw another home blank

ARSENAL 0 LIVERPOOL 0

By Ricky Butler at Emirates Stadium

SO IN THE END IT WAS A GAME OF TWO HALVES AND A TALE OF TWO GOALKEEPERS.

In a first period dominated by the Merseysiders, Arsenal stopper Petr Cech produced two world class saves to deny Christian Benteke and Phillipe Coutinho. But after the break, as Arsenal got on top, it was Simon Mignolet 's turn to shine; denying Olivier Giroud, Aaron Ramsey and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

So nil-nil but certainly not the bore draw the scoreline suggests.

While Brendan Rodgers' Liverpool dominated the opening period it was largely down to the ineptitude of Arsenal's play. Rarely has an Arsene Wenger side miss-placed as many passes as they did in the opening 45 minutes last night at the Emirates.

Poor Callum Chambers was the chief culprit. The 20-year old defender, in as a late replacement for flu victim Per Mertesaker, looked like a Sunday league player suddenly thrust into the Premier League limelight in a first half performance as poor as any seen at this magnificent stadium.

Looking ill-at-ease from the start, Chambers would have cost his side at least three goals had it not been for the inspirational performances of Cech and centre-back partner Gabriel.

One save from Cech, to deny Benteke from point blank range, was as good anything he has produced in a glorious career. Although when he later tipped Coutinho's curling effort onto the post; that was arguably an even better stop.

Cech denies Benteke a certain goal

And in between, Brazilian defender Gabriel got Chambers off the hook again with a wonderful block to deny James Milner, after the former Southampton youngster had gifted the visitors possession on the edge of his own penalty area.

Yet for all Liverpool's dominance it was Arsenal who should have been ahead at half time. Just eight minutes had elapsed when Ramsey finished off a lovely pass from Santi Cazorla. But for the second Monday night in a row the linesman flag came to Liverpool's rescue when TV replays suggested that Ramsey was clearly onside.

But whatever Wenger said at half time, and he is not noted for his hair-dryer, it certainly did the trick. Right from the off the Gunners carried the fight to their visitors but they ran into a well drilled defensive unit who are yet to concede a goal this season. And when they did manage to breach the black-shirted Liverpool wall, Mignolet stood firm.

The Belgium goalkeeper turned away a close-range, scuffed shot from Giroud before doing even better to keep out Ramsey's deflected effort and a late pile-driver from substitute Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Arsenal became more and more desperate as the clock ticked down, throwing on speedsters Theo Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain, but it proved to be in vain as honours finished even; the right result on the night.

Wenger, understandably, was disappointed with the disallowed goal. He said: “We scored a regular goal that was disallowed, I don't believe I can do something about it. 

"At the end of the day, the referee cancelled out a regular goal. Like it or don't like it, it is a fact. We had chances, but we couldn't finish them off. 

"When you play at home and don't win, people always find problems. It is not the result or the complete performance, but we came back in the second half."

Rodgers was delighted with his sides display. He said: “I thought we were very good. First half, Petr Cech was the man of the match. Second half, we were always a threat going forward. The players worked ever so hard."

Petr Cech and Benteke embrace at the final whistle

It may be very early days but on this evidence neither side looks like potential champions. Wenger's team are struggling at home, failing to score here for the fifth time in their last six outings, while Liverpool are also lacking a cutting edge, despite the presence of new signing Benteke; just one goal from open play in three games this season says it all.

With a week remaining of the transfer window it would not be a surprise to see both managers adding to their squad. Arsenal desperately need a centre-half and a goal-poacher, while Liverpool need more support for Benteke and someone in midfield to compliment the creative skills of Coutinho.

Arsenal – Cech 9, Bellerín 6, Chambers 5, Gabriel 7, Monreal 8, Coquelin 8 (Oxlade-Chamberlain 7), Cazorla 8, Ramsey 7, Ozil 7, Sanchez 6, Giroud 6 (Walcott 6).

Liverpool – Mignolet 8, Clyne 7, Lovren 7, Skrtel 8, Gomez 7, Milner 7, Lucas 8 (Rossiter 6), Can 8, Firmino 7 (Ibe 6), Coutinho 8 (Moreno 6), Benteke 7.

Referee: M. Oliver 6

MAN OF MATCH  - Petr Cech (Arsenal) - After a shaky start to his Arsenal career, the former Chelsea man looked back to his best to deny Liverpool all three points.