Arsenal and Liverpool engaged in a classic tale of two halves at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday, where the Premier League title hopefuls traded control without goals.
The Gunners were very good in the first half but could not find the back of the goal despite their bluster, and the Reds seized second-half impetus in taking the hosts almost completely out of the game.
It was a day for the midfielders as the visitors failed to get a shot on target — with apologies to Conor Bradley smacking the post with a chipped effort — and neither side managed even 0.50 expected goals.
So who shined and slumped? Arsenal vs Liverpool player ratings are below.
Arsenal vs Liverpool player ratings
David Raya: 5 — Had little to do and nearly gave Conor Bradley a goal with a rushed clearance.
Jurrien Timber: 6.5 —One of the players of the first half, running the game from the right with Bukayo Saka, he faded in the second.
William Saliba: 7 — For all of Liverpool's second-half control, they didn't really sniff the danger areas.
Gabriel Magalhaes: 7.5 — See Saliba's rating, with an added bonus for continuing to push passes into Liverpool's final third.
Piero Hincapie (Off 57'): 6.5 — A couple of timely interceptions but the play was so rarely in both Arsenal's end and on the left side while he was in the game.
Martin Zubimendi: 7 — His work gave Rice the freedom to do more in attack.
Declan Rice: 7.5 — Created multiple good chances for the Gunners and always looked ready to win the ball back or support his teammates.
Martin Odegaard (Off 78'): 6 — Didn't put his team in any bad positions, but his tidiness with the ball came at the sacrifice of his vision and adventure.
Bukayo Saka (Off 78'): 7 — Very good in the first half but his influence waned along with his team.
Leandro Trossard (Off '65): 6 — Always seemed hampered by the first half yellow card he took for breaking up a Florian Wirtz counter attack.
Viktor Gyokeres (Off 65'): 6 — The Gunners aren't playing like they have a feared target forward despite Gyokeres' work rate being far from lazy. Do they not trust him, or can they not find him?
Subs
Myles Lewis-Skelly (On ’57): 5 — Given a huge headache by Frimpong.
Gabriel Martinelli (On 65′): 6.5 — A nice effort in stoppage time.
Gabriel Jesus (On 65′): 6.5 — A lively if short run.
Eberechi Eze (On 78′): N/A
Noni Madueke (On 78′): N/A
Liverpool vs Arsenal player ratings
Alisson Becker: 7.5 — Four saves and a good read of the game as Arsenal tried to grab the points in a passionate first half.
Milos Kerkez: 7 — A little wobbly in the first half but gathered himself and looked more like 'Bournemouth Kerkez' in the second frame.
Ibrahima Konate: 6.5 — Made sure Gyokeres felt his presence from the opening whistle.
Virgil van Dijk: 7 — A steady day at the back and flashed his range of passing as the game wore into its final stages.
Conor Bradley (Off 90+5'): 6 — Clipped the bar in the first half and ran his shorts off the whole game but it was a little too much. Hopefully his late leg injury isn't as serious as his reaction.
Ryan Gravenberch: 8 — The defensive work can de-focus and exhaust some players of their ambition and creativity but Gravenberch always appeared ready to seize whatever chances the game gave him.
Alexis Mac Allister: 5.5 — Poor in the first half, he rallied with a better second-half grade.
Dominik Szoboszlai: 6.5 — Rattled off five shot attempts but couldn't recreate his free kick wizardry despite a pair of good chances.
Florian Wirtz: 7.5 — He's officially — beyond a shadow of a doubt — found his footing. Now it's on Arne Slot to find a formation that gets him on the ball even more.
Cody Gakpo: 6 — Effort was there, sharpness was not.
Jeremie Frimpong: 5.5 — His pace caused Hincapie some headaches and Lewis-Skelly migraines but his next move rarely seemed to be on point.
Subs
Joe Gomez (On 90+5'): N/A
