MENTALITY MINNOWS TO MONSTERS

ARSENAL ARE BACK BABY

This write-up could have been very different today had that first half carried over. My fear before the game was that the hangover from Paris on Wednesday would make it really, really tough to beat a Liverpool side looking to impress at home. After 22 minutes, those fears had played out.

Arsenal had early chances to go ahead—Bukayo Saka committing the most egregious of finishing crimes when he beat the offside trap from an Odegaard set piece and somehow managed to clatter his five-yard volley well wide of Alisson’s far post. We had a moment when Thomas Partey created a turnover in the LFC penalty area, but neither he, Trossard, nor Odegaard committed to finishing, so the chance ebbed away.

Then we went 2-0 down within the space of two minutes. Warning signs were everywhere. We were getting beaten over the top, Liverpool were winning the important duels, and Arsenal looked slow-witted all over the pitch.

The first goal was pure lack of focus from our defence. Saliba cleared out a mess for a throw. No Arsenal player tracked the quick throw to an unmarked Robertson, he crossed to an unmarked Gakpo who nodded it inside Raya’s near post. A stupid goal to concede. Emirates Cup stuff.

Two minutes later, Salah—of all people—looped a ball in behind our defence. Szoboszlai beat everyone to it, clipped a pass across Raya, and Diaz slid in for a simple empty-net tap-in. Kiwior was too slow, Saliba wasn’t looking behind him, our midfield wasn’t aggressive enough… terrible.

What was going on here? It was Arsenal carnage.

The second half was either going to bring a reaction or a contraction and a whopping the likes we haven’t seen under Arteta.

Lucky for us, we saw the players come out with some belief. Trossard led the way with an early cutback to Merino that was blocked. Moments later, the Belgian was back at it again with a well-crafted cross, perfect for Martinelli to glance past Alisson. A proper number 9 goal if ever I’ve seen one.

Now Arsenal were pulling strings… Saka got in the mood, beat ten men, teed it up for Trossard to put the ball over the bar. Ben White put on the turbo boosters and powered into their box only to see his strike well saved. Martinelli had another eight-yard strike through legs denied by a brilliant save (just like the one in Paris).

Martinelli, it has to be said, was excellent. He was taking up more of a 9 role and he was a problem. He’d float in from the left and give us pace outlets against a Liverpool defence that didn’t know how to deal with him.

But it wasn’t the Brazilian who got the game back level. It was Odegaard letting fly from 30 yards, Alisson pushing the ball onto the post, and Merino being first to the reaction header that he placed perfectly into an empty net. Nine goals, five assists. Not bad, you have to say.

What was bad was watching him make fatigue errors late on in the game, not get subbed, then drop two terrible tackles in one move and get sent off. If he’d been a bit sharper, we might have chased the game down and won the whole thing.

It wasn’t to be… but honestly, I don’t f*cking care. We got the point. I think it’s clear that we’ll be a better team than them next season. We’re highly likely to be in the Champions League again if we can get a point from our next two games.

It’s hard to be too critical of players in games like this. They’ve spent the last month being told by Arteta they’re the chosen ones who will deliver Champions League glory… they believed it… then those hopes were dashed. I understand why going to Anfield was a hard ask.

But… they’re professionals. We have to be in the Champions League to fund their lifestyles, so get to f*cking work, lads.

It took a while, but they reacted, they got the point, and we’re in pole position for our third straight season in the Champions League.

We also don’t have to worry about mentality. If we’d taken a beating against a team with nothing to play for, that’d be a big warning sign to me that maybe the progress ain’t where it should be. Big teams do the job, whatever the weather. No one was asking for a beatdown, but they were expecting Arsenal to show up. That first 45 felt like a latter-years Wenger showing. It was meek, mailed-in, and terrible to watch. Arteta can’t accept that from his players, and he can’t allow the dark voices in our fan base to set the narrative that actually, maybe we’re still pretty weak. 2025 has been shite for a number of reasons that are valid… but I’ve never questioned commitment to the cause. I had those thoughts in the first 45.

But the boys fought back.

Odegaard showed some real promise. His shot led to the equaliser, and his first-half free kick deserved a goal from Saka.

Saliba hasn’t been right for about six weeks. I hope Arteta noticed and makes adjustments next year to rotate him with Ben White.

Kiwior regressed to the mean, which tells me we should be selling him while people still rate him. He’s not the level we need as backup next season.

I love David Raya, but some of his passing has been quite off-putting of late. He hasn’t been at it in 2025 in the way I’d hoped. He made some great saves yesterday, but some of the hospital passes were worrying.

Overall though, we got a point. We should hopefully be able to do the same against Newcastle next week, then we can lay this season to rest.

Merino is suspended, Trossard might be out with a hamstring injury, so don’t be shocked if you see Kai Havertz in contention for a return to the squad next week. It’s desperate times, and having his power off the bench could be massive for us.

Finally, Spurs and United.

Ange has lost 20 games this season.

Amorim has won something like five in 22 in the Premier League since he joined.

If you are sitting at your desk telling me they’ve had a better season than us… I can’t even talk to you. We can’t converse. I won’t tolerate it. If you can look at two of the biggest clubs in England, 36 games in, without 40 points in the league, and say… I’d have what they might have in Europa over what Arsenal has… we’re done. I’m going to drink in another pub.

Maybe not finally… those banners Liverpool fans brought into the stadium must have been signed off by the club. Very classless. Second riff on the same issue… booing Trent? An academy kid who has won it all, playing 325 odd games, getting 86 assists, bringing so much joy along the way. Are they mad? He’s leaving at 26 years old, he has a right to go, he did it after winning the Premier League. Liverpool fans, on a day of celebration, felt the need to boo every touch he had. That is disgusting behavior. I hope the whole club is embarrassed.

Ok, that’s me done. For members, if you want Johnny’s Ratings, it’s in the On The Whistle post below. If you want to subscribe for a spicy hot summer, I have a VERY good deal below. x