Match Report: Arsenal 0-0 Liverpool

Sports - Football - Premier League - Arsenal 0-0 Liverpool

Liverpool maintained their unbeaten run keeping Arsenal waiting for their first home win of the season as both sides played out a thrilling goalless draw at the Emirates with plenty of action, chances and controversies.

It was the first time James Milner wore the captain's armband for Brendan Rodgers' men as Jordan Henderson missed out due to injury.

Arsene Wenger's men meanwhile were weakened at the back through illness and injury to centre-backs Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny respectively.

And it certainly was a game of two halves with the Reds dominating the first half, Christian Benteke and Philippe Coutinho working dangerously well together, hitting the bar, the post and pulling some breath-taking saves out of under-fire Gunner keeper Petr Cech.

The home side were all over the place, however, they should have been ahead early on when Aaron Ramsey had the ball in the back of the net in the eighth minute, only to be flagged and disallowed offside, cruelly borderline.

Arsenal have only seen two wins in the last eleven games officiated by Martin Oliver and can make it two out of twelve with this match which is not a nice read.

But the Community Shield winners came back strong and took over play in the second half, Ramsey and Olivier Giroud keeping Red stopper Simon Mignolet busy and Alexis Sanchez just finding the post on the hour-mark.

Both goalkeepers worked hard, showed top quality, earning and deserving the clean sheets. Their teams showed great potential up front but major leaks, not being able to keep or clear the ball in the middle or at the back of the field, which should be worrying for both.

Liverpool will welcome West Ham at Anfield next Saturday afternoon, whilst Arsenal will travel to Newcastle for the lunch time kick-off.

Both sides will surely challenge for the top four this season, all depending on whether they can fix the leaks and find more security and solidity at the back, not just relying on their keepers alone.

Pictures taken from the BBC and Sky Sports websites.

Arsenal Team: 33 Cech; 5 Gabriel (booked 65'), 21 Chambers, 24 Bellerin; 19 Cazorla (c), 34 Coquelin (15 Oxlade-Chamberlain); 17 Sanchez, 11 Özil, 16 Ramsey; 12 Giroud (14 Walcott 73'). 4-1-3-1

Subs not used: 2 Debuchy, 3 Gibbs, 8 Arteta, 13 Ospina, 20 Flamini.

Liverpool Team: 22 Mignolet (booked 85'); 12 Gomez (booked 79'), 6 Lovren, 37 Skrtel (booked 61'), 2 Clyne; 7 Milner (c), 21 Lucas (46 Rossiter 76'), 23 Can (booked 67'); 10 Coutinho (18 Moreno 87'), 9 Benteke, 11 Firmino (33 Ibe 63'). 4-3-3

Subs not used: 17 Sakho, 27 Origi, 28 Ings, 34 Bogdan.

Match Stats: Arsenal-Liverpool: 1st & 2nd half

Attempts: 3-11 & 16-4

On target: 1-5 & 4-3

Offside: 5-4 & 0-0

Goal kicks: 2-5 & 1-4

Corners: 2-6 & 5-2

Free kicks: 5-1 & 8-1

Throws: 5-6 & 7-10

Possession: 61%-39% (HT) & 66%-34% (FT)

Referee: Martin Oliver

Attendance: 60,080 

Top Blues lose - Pompey get consolation win

Sports - Football - Premier League - Picks of the Weekend

Champs: Arsenal showed showed team strength and attitude, unity and stamina - so too did Manchester City and Portsmouth. All three of them were put into a situation where other teams would have given up and crumbled but they fought on and got what they deserved - victory.

Hero: Tottenham's goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes made a couple of spectacular saves. Everton will feel unlucky having got nothing out of the match. Liverpool's win against Blackburn summarized their season and problem of how much they have to rely on Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres to hit the net and net the points for them.

You Beauty! Martin Paterson's equalizer for Burnley against Portsmouth was a sleek showpiece. It was one of those elegant, back-foot flicks, that you will find in any selection of best goals. Tottenham's second against Everton was a fine combination of their Croatian trio.

Has-Beens: Where were Chelsea? They seemed to have forgotten where they and their heads stood. Manchester City cut them open and they could not recover. From the non-existent handshake, some (Henrique) Hilario(s) bloopers, to some red cards and heads - just nothing went their way.

Zero: I think both Wayne Bridge and John Terry should get a grip! The prior's actions I found childish (the non-existent handshake mentioned above), the latter's battered dog-face and fragile display I saw as crude. Both should be more mature and professional and get on with it.

Ouch! I need not mention the most painful incident of the weekend. I just cannot believe it is strike three for Arsenal. After Vassiriki Abou Diaby and Eduardo, now it hit Aaron Ramsey. In all three incidences, you cannot say the fowls were committed with malice, but nonetheless, they are career-threatening tackles and thereby require hard penalties as a consequence.

My Predictions - Actual Results

Birmingham 2:1 Wigan - 1:0

Bolton 1:0 Wolves - 1:0

Burnley 2:0 Portsmouth - 1:2

Chelsea 3:2 Man City - 2:4

Stoke City 1:1 Arsenal - 1:3

Liverpool 2:0 Blackburn - 2:1

Sunderland 1:1 Fulham - 0:0

Tottenham 2:0 Evert0n - 2:1