LONDON– Arsenal and Liverpool played out a tense 0-0 draw on Thursday night, in a Premier League fixture that never quite caught fire. The result stopped Mikel Arteta’s side from stretching their lead at the top to eight points. Instead, Arsenal take a single point and stay six clear of Manchester City and Aston Villa.
Heavy rain fell throughout, and the slick surface made control difficult. Rather than a match full of chances, it became one where both defences stayed on top. It was the first time Arsenal and Liverpool had drawn 0-0 in the Premier League since August 2015. That also ended a long run of 20 league meetings between them that produced 79 goals.
First Half: Plenty of Care, Not Many Chances
Both teams started cautiously, with neither keen to take early risks. Arsenal, who came into the game on a five-match winning streak in the league, saw more of the ball. Still, they found it hard to break through a well-set Liverpool back line, led by Virgil van Dijk.
Liverpool grew into the half and went closest to scoring. Conor Bradley hit the crossbar after a rare mistake from Arsenal keeper David Raya. At the other end, Bukayo Saka forced Alisson Becker into a save, but clear openings were limited.
Liverpool had a shout for a penalty after a challenge on Florian Wirtz, but the referee waved play on, and VAR didn’t step in. The teams went in level, with neither side creating a chance that truly changed the mood in the stadium.
Second Half: Pressure Without a Finish
The second half followed the same pattern. Arsenal pushed forward but lacked a sharp final touch. Viktor Gyökeres was kept quiet again, while Gabriel Jesus added more energy after coming on.
The best chance of the night came late. In stoppage time, Jesus headed wide from close range when it looked easier to hit the target. Liverpool also had a moment gifted to them when William Saliba played too casually, but the visitors couldn’t take advantage.
Liverpool, still dealing with injuries, extended their unbeaten run to 10 matches. They looked comfortable sitting in and managing the game, even as the home crowd grew frustrated. After the final whistle, Arteta admitted his side didn’t create enough. Arne Slot was pleased with the discipline shown to take a point away from home.
Premier League Table (After 21 Matches)
Arsenal remain top on 49 points. Liverpool move to 35 points in fourth place, still 14 behind the leaders.
Top of the Table:
| Pos | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | GF | GA | GD | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 21 | 15 | 4 | 2 | 40 | 14 | +26 | 49 |
| 2 | Manchester City | 21 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 45 | 19 | +26 | 43 |
| 3 | Aston Villa | 21 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 33 | 24 | +9 | 43 |
| 4 | Liverpool | 21 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 32 | 28 | +4 | 35 |
| 5 | Brentford | 21 | 10 | 3 | 8 | 35 | 28 | +7 | 33 |
Quick form check:
Arsenal (last five league games): W-W-W-W-D
Liverpool (last five league games): D-D-W-W-D
Arsenal’s lead stays at six points, but they’ll feel this was a missed chance if City make the most of their next fixtures.
Next Up: Cup Ties, Then Back to the League
Both clubs now switch focus to the FA Cup before the Premier League returns.
Arsenal head to Fratton Park to face Portsmouth in the third round on Sunday, 11 January. Their next league match is away at Nottingham Forest on 17 January, followed by a home game against Manchester United.
Liverpool hosts Barnsley in the FA Cup on 12 January, then welcomes Burnley to Anfield in the league on 17 January. They travel to Bournemouth on 24 January.
The match highlighted how tight things are at the top end of the Premier League. For Liverpool, it’s a useful away point in their title defence. For Arsenal, it may feel like two points dropped as they chase their first league title since 2004.
