A fine strike by Mo Salah cancelled out an early header by Gabriel Magalhaes as Arsenal and Liverpool played out an entertaining 1-1 draw at Anfield.
The result means the Gunners retain top spot in the Premier League table for Christmas but with only four points separating the top four, and Manchester City lurking in fifth, there’s everything to play for as the festive fixtures keep coming.
After the match, Bukayo Saka faced questions from Sky Sports. Here’s what he had to say…
On the result…
I think we’re a bit frustrated. I’m a bit frustrated. But I guess it can be good, you know, when you come to Anfield and you’re frustrated that you haven’t won. But obviously credit to Liverpool, they played well and I think we played well as well.
On why he was left frustrated…
I think there are certain moments in the game, of course they had their own moments, but sometimes in the final third that final pass or shot did not go the right way, which is frustrating.
On the team being stronger defensively compared to last season…
Yeah, I’d say 100 per cent. There was times today where you saw how great our defence is, our midfielders were helping to defend us, but yeah, the centre-back pairing, Willy, Gabby, I thought they were really good today. Special shout-out to them, they were top. They dealt with the threat Liverpool had loads of times, so that did help us out a lot.
On Declan Rice’s performance…
Yeah, Dec has brought a lot to our team. I think he’s definitely made us better. You can see, especially in games like today, he’s there breaking up the play, covering up so much ground and obviously he wins the ball back and plays forward so quick. It’s nice for our attackers to have a player like him, just winning the ball and playing forward. It’s what we want. So, yeah, big credit to him and he had another top performance today. I think he’s been so consistent this year. So yeah, special credit to him.
On going head-to-head with right-footed Joe Gomez…
I don’t really think too much about that, whether they’re right-footed or left-footed. I’m just focused on getting at my full-back. But obviously, it’s more difficult when you have Virgil van Dijk coming across behind him and I can see him. Credit to Liverpool today, they did well in defending against me. And credit to Joe as well. He got the better of me sometimes. And I think obviously he played quite well.
On his collision with Kostas Tsimitkas…
I’ve heard he’s gone to hospital, so obviously I want to apologise to him. I didn’t mean it, of course. For me, it was just a 50-50, and I’ve gone shoulder to shoulder with him. I think I didn’t see him, but he must have taken a bad fall. I didn’t see that he went into Jurgen Klopp either. I was focused on running forward because I didn’t see him, but he must have taken a bad fall.
On Arsenal’s title credentials…
I don’t think you can talk about the title yet. I think it’s way too early. I think we’ll just take the point. We’re still top of the table for Christmas, which is nice. But I think it’s too early to talk about the title.
I love you Saka.
So much.
Saka didn’t have a good game, lot of poor decisions and passes. Maybe we need to use him the Liverpool use Salah.
I am frustrated with Ian Wright as a pundit as well. Brother you want to play neutral buy your peers are blody biased and they drive the narrative
Frustrated with or frustrated for?
I am with Ian Wright. In apositive way.
So if others are monkeys he should be a monkey too? The whole point of Arsenal is to have class and show people how it should be done, not to stoop to the level of those dickwads
I know everyone needs to play for the system etc, but can’t help but feel we can play for Saka a bit more and get even more out of him. Liverpool were looking for Salah every chance they get, but it takes an age to get the ball to Saka and then he’s miles from goal and often double teamed.
Saka is such a special player. He’s really quite unique as a winger, and I think Salah today demonstrated this perfectly. Yes he got his goal, but otherwise did very little. In a position which typically is defined by moments but which the game often largely passes by, Saka is probably our most potent weapon in keeping pressure on teams. Majority of wingers will take the ball, attack their man, try and get a cross in and- more often than not- lose the ball. That’s their MO- keep trying. Saka is different, it’s almost attritional at times. He’ll take you… Read more »
Saka: I’m unbelievably frustrated with my boots and short studs. I could hardly stay on my feet
He played Wirth Sake’s on today. Slipping all over the place.
should he played with skates on today.
he wasn’t the only one, happened to Ødderz and others throughout the game.
Bakayo was slipping on the Anfield surface nearly every time he touched the ball.
Even my mrs sister who has no clue about football but had to watch it with us said is the grass more slippy for arsenal, my son response was we took our studs off on our boots to be quicker…i let it go..
Also pissed with Ole. The way he lures opponents on, also the habit of the quick turn and oops there is another man that he didn’t anticipate. The quick one touch is the way out of trouble; there should be more on it. Also why not the long ball more. Martinelli and Saka are often in plenty of space but….