LIVERPOOL, England — Arsenal battled back from a two-goal deficit to earn a gritty 2-2 draw against Premier League champions Liverpool on Sunday, delaying their hopes of clinching a top-five finish and Champions League qualification.
Despite arriving at Anfield bruised from a midweek Champions League semifinal exit and missing midfield anchor Declan Rice due to injury, Mikel Arteta’s side rallied in dramatic fashion after being thoroughly outplayed in the opening 45 minutes.
Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz struck in rapid succession midway through the first half, capitalizing on Arsenal’s lack of structure and cohesion as the champions surged into a commanding 2-0 lead. Gakpo opened the scoring with a near-post header after a pinpoint cross from Andy Robertson, while Diaz followed up with a close-range finish just moments later.
Liverpool’s dominance faded after the break, and Arsenal seized the momentum. Gabriel Martinelli headed home two minutes into the second half to reignite the contest, exploiting a lapse in Liverpool’s defense. The Gunners continued to press and found an equalizer in the 70th minute when Mikel Merino converted a rebound after Martin Ødegaard’s thunderous strike was pushed onto the crossbar by Alisson.
However, Merino’s afternoon ended on a sour note just nine minutes later when he was shown a second yellow card for a rash challenge on Dominik Szoboszlai, forcing Arsenal to finish the match with 10 men. Still, the visitors nearly stole all three points in stoppage time as Ødegaard fired inches wide of the post.
Liverpool, having already secured a record-tying 20th English league title two weeks ago, remain top with 83 points from 36 matches. Arsenal, on 68 points, are second but still face uncertainty in securing Champions League football next season, with two league games remaining.
Arteta’s team entered the match giving Liverpool a traditional guard of honour for their title win, but they left Anfield having reminded the champions why Arsenal were their closest challengers throughout the campaign.
While the Gunners’ comeback was spirited, their offensive depth took another hit with Leandro Trossard limping off with an apparent injury, and the red card to Merino leaves Arteta with more selection headaches for the run-in.
For Liverpool manager Arne Slot, the introduction of Trent Alexander-Arnold in the second half — who was jeered by the home crowd — may be one decision he regrets, as the fullback was slow to react in the buildup to Arsenal’s equalizer.
The match served as a tale of two halves — the first marked by Liverpool’s ruthless finishing, the second by Arsenal’s grit and resurgence. Though neither side claimed all three points, the draw underscored Arsenal’s determination to stay in the fight for Champions League qualification until the final whistle of the season.
