Liverpool have struggled to get to grips with a changing Premier League this season, falling victim to the re-emerging long-ball tactics.
The Reds have never been a team who like to go long, preferring to play attractive, eye-catching football on their way to winning trophies.
Although fans have not seen much of that on display this season, at least they know their club will never truly resort to the kind of thing Arsenal have been producing for the past three or four seasons.
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Who was your Man of the Match during Liverpool’s battling draw with Arsenal?
Much better from the Reds today!
Milos Kerkez battles with Bukayo Saka during Liverpool's Premier League match against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
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Liverpool faced the Gunners on Thursday in a chance for Mikel Arteta’s team to assert their dominance against Arne Slot’s out of sorts side.
14 points clear of Liverpool they have been at kick-off, but Arsenal showed themselves to be a cowardly and downright dull football team throughout a dull 0-0 draw at the Emirates Stadium. If they do go on to win the Premier League from here, Arteta and his fear-ridden pretenders will never be worthy champions.
Arsenal are not fit to be champions after cowardly display
There was a time not too many moons ago when Arsenal were well-known as the most attractive football team in England, possibly in all of Europe.
But in his search to win an actual piece of silverware, Arteta has sacrificed all of that for a style of play which is decidedly less flamboyant.
Mikel Arteta outstretches his hands during Arsenal's Premier League match against Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium.
Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
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Granted, Arsenal did not need to win Thursday’s game to continue sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League table. But they could at least have laid down a marker against the current champions. Instead, they completely wilted.
Liverpool came into this clash in terrible shape. Battered and bruised from injuries, the Reds are a shadow of the team which bullied Arsenal into second place last season.
Even at their worst, though, Liverpool looked more than a match for the Gunners. Virtually full-strength compared to Slot’s threadbare squad.
Happy with the point, Reds?
A much better display, but should we have pushed for the win?
Virgil van Dijk applauds during Liverpool's Premier League match against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium (Credit: Getty Images/Marc Atkins).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Marc Atkins
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In fact, if there had been a winner at the Emirates, it would likely have been Liverpool. Even lacking so much firepower, the Reds still looked like the better team. That is a damning indictment on Arsenal and Arteta.
The Premier League deserves better than this
If Arsenal do go on to lift the trophy, then there is little argument that they will have deserved it. Nevertheless, English football owes itself to be better than this.
This cannot be the best team in the country. Expensively assembled they may be, but this team are what their manager once was during playing days: a plodder.
Arteta was never a top player, and he has put together a team who do not belong in the top bracket.
Thursday was their chance to go at the champions and make it a true passing of the torch. But once again, they failed to get over that final hurdle.
The Premier League markets itself as the best league in world football. It deserves a better standard-bearer than this. Dull, dull, dull, Arsenal.
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