Determined to seize the title high ground, eager to exploit the fact that United do not play until Wednesday evening, Liverpool had torn into Arsenal from the start. There was an urgency to Liverpool’s movement, a crispness to their first-time passing that immediately had Arsenal on the back foot until Arshavin struck seven minutes from the break. Waves of anxiety raced around Anfield until Benitez’s inspired half-time switch brought goals from Torres and Benayoun, setting up a frantic finale.
Liverpool could have put the game beyond Arsenal’s reach within quarter of an hour. They would have been three goals clear within 15 minutes but for the much-derided Fabianski. Arsenal’s stand-in keeper, criticised for his Wembley failings against Chelsea, showed why Wenger has faith in him. First he saved a sighter from Torres before making a fine double stop, throwing himself at the feet of Benayoun and Dirk Kuyt. Just on the quarter-hour, the Polish keeper arched himself backwards, stretched out a right hand and somehow managed to tip over a Torres snap-shot.
Wenger had known Liverpool would come flying out of the traps and introduced a degree of caution to his line-up, flooding midfield and playing on the counter, looking for moments when Arshavin could show his eye for goal. Nicklas Bendtner formed the spearhead of a 4-2-3-1 system, the Dane relying on Cesc Fabregas to break upfield in support while Arshavin and the right-sided Samir Nasri cut in from the flanks.
Arsenal clearly had not come to be rolled over, to surrender meekly. Some of their challenges embodied their physical determination not to cede any space. How Mikael Silvestre stayed on midway through the first half remained a mystery to all bar Howard Webb, who has been announced as the referee for the FA Cup final.
First Silvestre went through the back of Torres, a nasty challenge that left the Spaniard in a crumpled heap, sent an outraged Benitez hopping around his technical area yet drew only a shake of the head from Webb. Play on. Silvestre then tripped Dirk Kuyt on the edge of the Arsenal box. Another foul. Another Liverpool appeal. Another dismissive shrug from Webb.
Liverpool retaliated, Jamie Carragher twice flattening Fabregas, the hosts’ foolishly allowing themselves to be distracted. Arsenal sensed a vulnerability, a frustration in Benitez’s men and doubled their hounding of opponents in possession, a tactic that drew significant reward after 38 minutes.
When Fabio Aurelio attempted to work the ball out from the back, the Brazilian placed Javier Mascherano under real pressure. The Argentinian lost the ball to Nasri and Liverpool were opened up, their back-line in disarray, hope springing up for Arsenal in front of a concerned Kop.
Suddenly, as Nasri prepared to play the killer ball, Wenger’s decision to keep Theo Walcott on the bench did not seem so contentious. As Fabregas darted inside Nasri, the French international made a clever pass, perfectly timed to ensure his captain was onside as he ghosted past Alonso.
Arshavin made his move, racing into the area, awaiting the cutback. Fabregas did not fail him, placing the ball right into his path. The Russian’s finish was unerring, drilled into the net of the underside of the bar.
The heat was really on Liverpool now, their season in danger of complete collapse. They poured forward again, Benayoun and Alvaro Arbeloa both going close but again Fabianski was in defiant mood.
Benitez acted, shuffling his attack, pushing Benayoun through the middle and ordering Kuyt to work the right. As Liverpool stormed forward towards a beseeching Kop, Anfield filled with belief again. Trust Benitez. Trust Torres. When Bacary Sagna miscued his clearance, Kuyt tamed the ball, saw his first cross come back off Kieran Gibbs and then lifted in another ball which Torres, jumping athletically, headed powerfully past Fabianski.
Rather than celebrating, Torres immediately shaped to get the ball back to the centre-circle and get on with the game. There was still work to be done. As Liverpool fans raised the roof, Benitez’s tactical switch again paid rich dividends. Kuyt swept in another cross met by the diving Benayoun. The Israeli international took Sagna’s boot in his face as he made contact, sending the ball goalwards. Fabianski clawed it away but it was clearly over the line and Webb rightly signalled a goal.
Arsenal came again, digging deep, racing through the gears, turning the game on its head again, amazingly equalising and then seizing the lead. Arshavin was unstoppable. When Fabianski’s long ball was nodded on by the little Russian, Carragher headed out to Arbeloa, who reacted too slowly. Arshavin pounced, advancing before unleashing a piledriver past Reina.
This was turning into a classic, a magnificent advertisement for the breath-taking, mistake-making Premier League. Like two heavyweights, they kept pummelling each other, kept recovering from seeming body blows that would have knocked out lesser mortals.
Arsenal attacked again, Nasri crossing and Aurelio volleying a poor clearance straight to Arshavin. Again, his finish was sensational, drilled past Reina. Liverpool were stunned, Carragher sitting motionless on the floor, a picture of frustration at some of his team’s inept defending.
But something stirred within Liverpool, and they fought back, raging against the fading of their Premier League light, again Torres keeping the dream alive by turning Silvestre and firing past Fabianski.
Liverpool had a chance to win it with 10 minutes remaining but Gibbs cleared Torres’ header off the line. Desperation crept in, Carragher charging 50 yards and firing wide. Then Theo Walcott raced 40 yards, squaring to Arshavin, who made it 3-4. Liverpool hit back, equalising through the outstanding Benayou
By HW
source : telegraph.co.uk
