Mikel Arteta admits Arsenal were caught up by a “special” Anfield atmosphere as Liverpool dealt a blow to their title challenge.
The Gunners had appeared on their way to a straightforward victory when goals inside the opening half-hour from Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus put them in control in their Premier League clash on Sunday afternoon.
However, Mohamed Salah pulled a goal back for the Reds three minutes before break with substitute Roberto Firmino snatching a deserved leveller for the home side in the 87th minute.
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Salah also missed a penalty with Arsenal indebted to a string of vital saves from goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale to repel a stirring Liverpool comeback.
And asked if he had experienced many similar atmospheres, Arteta said: “No. When you look back at what they’ve done to big teams, including this season, they’re an exceptional team. They’re very difficult to dominate for 90 minutes.
“They have moments where they shift the game and they create the momentum that they want. When they raise the level to that there are few teams that can keep up. You have some examples in the results this year again. Merit to them as well because they’re a really good team.”
Arteta added: “It was a super intense match. We started the game exceptionally well and dominated, scored a goal and continued to play the way we wanted to and scored again, and that was the moment to kill the game.
“Just before half-time we conceded a goal and Liverpool generated some belief. This is a special atmosphere and stadium and the second half was a very different story.
“We started really well in the first few minutes (after half-time) but then didn’t continue to play. We gave every ball away especially in dangerous areas and allowed dangerous results and big transition moments against the best team in the world in doing that. When that happens its chaos, it’s a lot of balls in your box, it’s difficult to get out of those situations and then you have to suffer.
“We relied on big defensive moments and they missed a penalty, but we could have won the game where he had three huge chances on the counter but were not ruthless enough.
“You need your goalkeeper if you want to win and be in a title race. Look at how many times Alisson has done for Liverpool what he has to do.
“But we have to look at ourselves in the mirror and say we should have done better. Looking at both halves, it was a fair result. We have to take it.”
The atmosphere inside Anfield changed shortly before Salah’s goal after Granit Xhaka was involved in an altercation with Trent Alexander-Arnold, with both players being booked.
But Arteta said: “I don’t know if that’s the case as we had a big chance after that. If you go 3-0 then the crowd doesn’t get excited, but after that they scored and everything changed.”
Arsenal are now only six points clear of Manchester City at the Premier League summit having played a game more, and still have to visit the Etihad.
And asked if the draw at Anfield was a point gained or two points dropped, Arteta said: “When you concede at the end, it’s always two dropped points. You have it and you are suffering, but to be fair to ourselves they had four big chances to have scored and missed a penalty.
“Is it now a test to respond? Every single day is a test. The team has responded for 31 games now.”
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