It was a tale of two different front lines in Philadelphia as the Merseysiders beat the Gunners
Sometimes football is simple. One team converts their opportunities, and another one doesn't. That's ultimately what separated Liverpool and Arsenal when they faced off in Philadelphia on Wednesday as both teams' tour of the United States continued.
Liverpool had a clinical finisher in Mohamed Salah who could bury a chance at any given moment, while the Gunners could only count on a collection of hesitant forwards. It has long been a criticism of Mikel Arteta's Arsenal that they lack a true centre-forward, but at times it's a bit of a footballing cop-out, an oversimplification of something very complex. In this case, though it was clear as a more deadly Liverpool beat the Gunners, 2-1.
Arne Slot put out something nearing a full-strength side, relying on Diogo Jota, Mohamed Salah and Fabio Carvalho to lead his forward line. And that trio made an impact, while the fresher Gunners trident of Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz fell flat.
Liverpool opened the scoring after 13 minutes, Salah running onto Harvey Elliott's through ball before finishing into the bottom corner. Jota could have doubled the lead after 30 minutes, but smashed his shot off the post from close range. Carvalho made no such mistake five minutes later, though, volleying home from close range off a clever flick from Elliott.
Arsenal responded, as Kai Havertz bundled home from close range after a clever Martin Odegaard pass. They had further chances, but hesitance in the final third – and poor decisions inside the box – saw the Gunners rendered relatively toothless.
The rest of the game collapsed into a drab kickabout as the managers introduced fresh legs in the second half. Still, it was the key moments that illuminated it all, Salah and co burying their opportunities, while Arsenal's main men faltered.
GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from Lincoln Financial Field…
GettyWINNER: Mohamed Salah
Salah was up for it from the first minute on Wednesday. The Egyptian has historically had fun playing against Oleksandr Zinchenko, and seemed to enjoy himself again here. He was in attack mode early on, running at the Ukrainian and asking questions of the Arsenal defence. He was rewarded for his efforts after 13 minutes, sprinting behind the back line before finishing past a helpless goalkeeper – a classic Salah goal.
Slot will be encouraged by what he has seen of his star forward so far. The Egyptian arrived back to pre-season early and looks in fine form. There will undoubtedly be questions about his future beyond the 2024-25 campaign as he enters the final year of his contract, but until further notice, he is a Liverpool player, and looks to be nearing his best once more.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesLOSER: Gabriel Martinelli
If one winger was at his brilliant best, then another endured a showing that looked a lot like his worst. Martinelli, in truth, has struggled for a while now. He never quite hit his usual levels last season, losing his spot in the XI to Leandro Trossard by the end of the campaign.
After a fruitless Copa America slate with Brazil, he was looking to rediscover some of his old self here, but he never really got out of first gear. Conor Bradley had him on straps for most of his time on the pitch, and in his one real decisive moment, Martinelli under-hit a square ball that would have surely seen his team find the net.
Once a crucial cog in this Arsenal machine, he now could be facing a bench role for the Gunners.
Getty ImagesWINNER: Arne Slot
Look, results here really don't matter. In a few months, no one will remember whether Liverpool beat Arsenal at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Those who were at the game – and paid exorbitant prices to be there – might not even remember.
But for managers, these fixtures are key opportunities to try out new tactical systems, get a look at their players, and try to steadily piece together how their XI might look once the season starts in full. And if the first 45 minutes are anything to go by, then Slot might just have something special on his hands here.
His Liverpool team pressed well, were fluid in attack, and took their clear chances when they came. Arsenal put out a stronger side, but Slot's team rather nullified them. The creativity was there, while the defensive effort would have also encouraged the manager. Yes, there's a long way to go, but this was another solid showing from the Dutchman's new iteration of Liverpool.
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GettyLOSER: Arsenal's striker options
What are the marginal gains Arsenal really need to win the league this year? For so much of last campaign, they matched Manchester City stride-for-stride, keeping pace with the eventual title winners. What they perhaps lacked, though, was an incisive cutting edge, the kind of player to guarantee 20 league goals from the top of the pitch. Thus far this summer, they have been reluctant to invest in that archetype, instead spending big on a centre-back in Riccardo Calafiori, and, if reports are to be believed, a central midfielder in Mikel Merino.
But on the evidence of this contest – and many last season – the Gunners sorely lack a focal point. The idea here was, presumably, for Havertz to be that guy, as Arsenal routinely knocked long balls to the big German through the middle. But he was rather bullied by the Liverpool centre-backs, and even though he found the net, there wasn't much of a spark to his play.
Football is more complicated than scoring goals, but Arsenal simply have to sign someone who can bang them in if they are to end their title drought.