Filed under: Arsenal, Liverpool, Premier League, Football, Match Reports
Arsenal's hopes of catching Manchester United and lifting the Premier League title took another blow after Dirk Kuyt's equaliser for Liverpool with the last kick of the game.Arsene Wenger's recorded goalless draws in their previous two games at the Emirates Stadium, but they looked to be on their way to a huge win when Robin van Persie netted in stoppage-time.
But there was more drama to come, with Kuyt netting after Emmanuel Eboue bundled over Lucas Leiva. It leaves Arsenal six points behind leaders United with six games to play.
Johan Djourou returned to the Arsenal defence after recovering from a dislocated shoulder but he almost gave a penalty away in the fifth minute when he tripped Jay Spearing, only for referee Andre Marriner to way play on.
Arsenal went close when Theo Walcott forced a save from Pepe Reina and the visitors had to scramble clear when Van Persie hooked the rebound into the danger area.
Laurent Koscielny also struck the crossbar from Van Persie's corner, with Walcott claiming a penalty when he followed it up with a shot that struck Lucas.
Before the break, Van Persie also had a goal chalked off for offside when met Cesc Fabregas' long pass with a neat volley.
Liverpool soaked up the Arsenal pressure and attacked themselves after the half-time interval, with Luis Suarez curling one effort wide and testing Wojciech Szczesny twice with others.
But they were dealt a blow when Jamie Carragher was carried off on a stretcher and needing oxygen after running into a team-mate, while Andy Carroll was taken off after picking up an ankle injury.
The injury meant the stoppage-time was 12 minutes, allowing Van Persie to score when Fabregas was trippped by Martin Skrtel, but Kuyt had the final word.
REACTION
Arsenal manager Wenger was furious with the referee for the time added on and for the penalty being awarded:
"We conceded a penalty after 11 minutes when the referee said there was eight minutes of injury time. I don't see where those three minutes came from and it was no penalty.
On the penalty:
"Lucas stopped in front of Eboue. There was no intervention from Ebous. Lucas stopped in his way and stopped his run. It was no penalty."
On the title:
"We dropped two points. It was a difficult game against a Liv team who basically only defended. We have to win the next game. We have to give everything until the last game of the season and see if it is our year or not."
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish reflected on the possibility of handing Manchester United the title:
"Sadness? In my eyes we're still the best club in English football, if not world football. So I'm not very sad at that. The surprise is that they have not won the title for a long time, that is the surprise but it's not sadness, it's just a fact of life. They never acquired enough points in any season since 1991 to win it."
On Liverpool's title chances next season:
"We'll have to wait and see and you'll only be judged on results. There is no time span, you never would have suggested they wouldn't have won a title in 20-odd years."
On Wenger being upset with Liverpool's defensive tactics:
"That's good, if we're frustrating the opposition manager. We'll take that every day of the week. We'll look after ourselves, and look after ourselves well. We'll do the best for us that we can do."
WHAT IT MEANS:
Time is running out for Arsenal as they attempt to catch United at the summit. They must hope there is no psychological damage after this result, which felt like defeat. Liverpool appear to be heading into next season in confident mood.
ARSENAL 1 (Van Persie pen 90) LIVERPOOL 1 (Kuyt pen 90)
PLAYER MARKING:
Arsenal (4-3-3): Szczesny 6; Eboue 7, Koscielny 7, Djourou 7, Clichy 7; Fabregas 7, Diaby 7 (Song 82), Wilshere 7 (Bendtner 73, 6); Walcott 7 (Arshavin 73, 6), Van Persie 7, Nasri 6.
Subs (not used): Lehmann, Squillaci, Gibbs, Chamakh.
Liverpool (4-4-2): Reina 7; Flanagan 7, Carragher 7 (Kyrgiakos 62, 6), Skrtel 7, Aurelio 6 (Robinson 22, 7); Kuyt 6, Spearing 7, Lucas 7, Meireles 6; Carroll 7 (Shelvey 72, 6), Suarez 8.
Subs (not used): Cole, Maxi, N'Gog, Gulacsi.
ATTENDANCE: 60,029
REFEREE: Andre Marriner
NEXT UP:
- Arsenal v Tottenham (away), Premier League, 20/04, 1945 BST
- Liverpool v Birmingham (home), Premier League, 23/04, 1500 BST
MAN OF THE MATCH:
Luis Suarez (Liverpool): Full of running and inventive attacking, either cutting in from the flanks or from central positions. Forming a decent partnership with Carroll too.
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Source: http://www.fanhouse.co.uk/2011/04/17/arsenal-1-liverpool-1-arsene-wengers-title-hopes-in-tatters-af/
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