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Liverpool logo
Premier League | Gameweek 30
Apr 9, 2023 at 4.30pm UK
Anfield
Arsenal logo

Liverpool
2 - 2
Arsenal

Salah (42'), Firmino (87')
van Dijk (31'), Alexander-Arnold (41'), Robertson (45+5'), Fabinho (55')
FT(HT: 1-2)
Martinelli (8'), Jesus (28')
White (23'), Xhaka (41'), Ramsdale (53'), Saka (84')

Mikel Arteta hails "magic" Aaron Ramsdale saves in Liverpool draw

Mikel Arteta hails
© Reuters
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta hails Aaron Ramsdale's "magic" saves in the Gunners' enthralling 2-2 draw with Liverpool at Anfield.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reserved special praise for Aaron Ramsdale for his "magic" saves in Sunday's 2-2 stalemate with Liverpool at Anfield.

The Gunners threw away a 2-0 lead to draw with the Reds in a chaotic Premier League affair, but Jurgen Klopp's side could have easily run away with a comfortable win in the second half.

Ramsdale could do little to prevent either of Liverpool's goals, but the England international came up with two sensational stops at the death to rescue a point for his side.

After tipping Mohamed Salah's deflected shot wide at full stretch, Ramsdale thwarted a free Ibrahima Konate at the back post from just a couple of yards out, mere seconds before the final whistle blew.

Speaking to reporters in his post-game press conference, Arteta compared Ramsdale's last-gasp saves to Alisson Becker bailing Liverpool out of trouble, hailing the 24-year-old's "exceptional" contributions.

Liverpool's Roberto Firmino scores against Arsenal on April 9, 2023© Reuters

"You need your goalkeeper if you want to win and be in title races. How many times has Alisson done what he has to do?" arsenal.com quotes Arteta as saying.

"You have to have that, you have to have those magic moments from the keeper. We had some exceptional moments from players today as well and to win at grounds like that, you need that."

Arsenal threatened to run away with the win during the opening 30 minutes, where Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus deservedly put the Gunners two goals to the good against Klopp's lacklustre charges.

However, a skirmish between Granit Xhaka and Trent Alexander-Arnold suddenly jolted the Anfield crowd into life towards the end of the first half, and Salah reduced the deficit prior to the break.

Galvanised by the Egyptian's response, Liverpool swarmed over Arsenal during the second 45 and ultimately snatched a point courtesy of a header from substitute Roberto Firmino after Salah had sent a penalty wide.

Arsenal's Granit Xhaka reacts after clashing with Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold on April 9, 2023© Reuters

Arsenal wasted a couple of gilt-edged chances to steal all three points on the counter-attack, though, and Arteta bemoaned a lack of "ruthlessness" on the evening.

"We started the game exceptionally well, dominated it, and took the game where we wanted. Scored the first one, and continued to play the way we wanted. We scored the second one and that was a moment to kill the game. And yet, before half-time, we gave them hope," Arteta added.

"We gave every single ball away especially in very dangerous areas when you allow open spaces in big transition moments against the best team in the world doing that. And when that happens, it's chaos. It's a lot of balls in your box, it's difficult to get out of those situations and then you have to suffer.

"We relied on big defensive moments where Aaron took a big part of it, and they missed the penalty. And then we could have nicked the game because we had three huge situations on the counter where they were overloaded or we were two against two.

"We missed that ruthlessness to take the game. So looking at the two halves, it's probably a fair result. And you have to take it and the big lesson is 'play the way we played the first half."

Arsenal's draw at Anfield extended their lead over Manchester City at the top of the table to six points, but the champions boast a game in hand, and the Gunners are next in action away to West Ham United in seven days' time.

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2Arsenal6420125714
3Chelsea6411157813
4Liverpool5401101912
5Aston Villa5401107312
6Fulham632185311
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle632187111
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton623110829
9Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest62316519
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs52129547
11Manchester UnitedMan Utd52125507
12Brentford6213810-27
13Bournemouth512258-35
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham6123610-45
15Everton6114715-84
16Leicester CityLeicester6033812-43
17Crystal Palace603359-43
18Ipswich TownIpswich503238-53
19Southampton501429-71
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