Arsenal are now without a win in their first two home games of the new Premier League season after drawing 0-0 with Liverpool at the Emirates on Monday evening.
Liverpool should have been ahead during what was a dominant first-half performance, but Arsenal improved after the break and will feel that they deserved at least a share of the spoils in London.
© Getty Images
Liverpool had a half-chance inside the opening two minutes when Emre Can found Christian Benteke inside the Arsenal box, but the Belgian forward could only drag his attempt wide of the post.
Benteke was again involved less than 30 seconds later as he set up Philippe Coutinho, who rattled one against the crossbar. The hosts did have the ball in the back of the net in the eighth minute when Aaron Ramsey converted following a super Santi Cazorla pass, but the flag was raised.
James Milner, Liverpool's skipper for the night, was next to come close in the 25th minute after breaking into the Arsenal box, but Petr Cech managed to get down low and make the save and it was to be Cech that came to his team's rescue late in the first period.
Benteke had an outstanding chance to send Liverpool ahead five minutes before the break following an excellent cross from Firmino, but Cech was on hand to make a quite stunning save, before the Czech Republic international denied Firmino from a tight angle.
Liverpool's dominance continued late in the half as Coutinho rattled the post with a rasping strike, but somehow Arsenal held on in the first 45 minutes.
The visitors started the second half as they finished the first, in control of the possession and looking the more threatening in the final third.
The first opportunity of the second period fell to Arsenal, however, with Olivier Giroud, on his 100th Premier League appearance, having a close-range effort deflected over the crossbar by Martin Skrtel.
© Getty Images
Arsenal managed to gain control of the ball as the match approached the hour mark, but the home side were still struggling to create clear chances.
Sanchez did burst into life after exchanging with Giroud in the 60th minute, but the Chilean could only rattle one against the post, before Cech denied Coutinho down the other end.
Giroud was next to come close for the home side five minutes later, but the Frenchman just could not make contact on a low cross from Ramsey, who had managed to wriggle free inside the penalty box.
Giroud again had an opportunity 20 minutes from time after turning inside the Liverpool box, but Simon Mignolet was on hand to make the save during a period where the Gunners were knocking on the door.
Milner then tested Cech down the other end with a powerful drive, but it was the hosts that continued to look the most likely, with Ramsey testing Mignolet with a curling effort from distance.
© Getty Images
Coutinho again tested Cech in the 81st minute as Liverpool went close, before Mignolet just managed to keep out a strike from Ramsey, which had taken a slight direction en route to goal.
Skrtel was then forced to poke a low Oxlade-Chamberlain cross wide of his own post as he came close to scoring a fourth own goal in his last three Premier League games against Arsenal.
Arsenal continued to force the issue late on, with four additional minutes added and Oxlade-Chamberlain and Gabriel Paulista coming close. Neither side could make the breakthrough, however, as the points were shared in an entertaining goalless draw.
The result has left Liverpool third in the table, while Arsenal sit ninth.
Matt Law
