Arsenal 1 Liverpool 1: Alexandre Lacazette strikes to earn a point after James Milner opener
UNLIKE Jurgen Klopp’s resilient Liverpool, they may not quite be genuine title challengers this season.
But make no mistake, this is a proper, sure-footed, red-blooded Arsenal team being schooled expertly by Unai Emery.
For while it was the home side who snatched the late equaliser, it was Liverpool who left feeling more glad of a point after a belting match.
After less than three months in charge, Emery has quietly swept away the inertia of Arsene Wenger’s dog days and produced a well-balanced side more reminiscent of the great man’s glory era.
Arsenal had racked up 12 wins from 13 unbeaten matches prior to this.
But none of them had been against fellow members of the wealthy elite, who wish to break away from all this and seek untold riches in a European Super League.
This was Emery’s acid test and the new-model Arsenal passed it, bettering Liverpool in midfield and dominating for long spells before a Bernd Leno blundered gifted James Milner the 62nd-minute opener.
For Liverpool, this was a third visit to London’s big three and they have taken seven points from nine.
They are not as thrilling as last season but they are flintier and, even though title rivals Manchester City and Chelsea defeated Arsenal back in August, this can only be regarded as a very decent point.
So we ended up with that rarity - two sets of supporters rightfully happy at the final whistle and all neutrals satisfied with a welter of action and lashings of quality.
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There has been 27 goals in the previous five meetings between these two great clubs and while the scoreline was more sober this time around, it was an outstanding game of football.
The pre-match news of that these two could be joining a European Super League actually ought to have been dreadful news for the Arsenal.
If England’s richest five clubs do go and hop it, then Tottenham would have a genuine chance of winning the title on Colour TV for the first time.
This certainly had the quality of an elite European fixture - technique at high tempo, an unblinkable watch between two sides high on confidence.
Arsenal started at full pelt - with the ball and without it - and the Emirates was full of positive energy.
It felt like an entirely different place to the days of civil war over Wenger.
The personnel has not changed a whole lot, of course, nine of the 11 Arsenal starters were here last seaosn - but many them were unrecognisable.
Not least Granit Xhaka, outstanding in the middle of the park alongside the cheeky half-pinter Lucas Torreira, whose arrival has down much to make the Gunners tick.
You would have sworn the pass Xhaka played to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was impossible until the Swiss imagined it - but and Liverpool keeper Alisson had to be smart to turn Aubameyang’s effort wide.
Then an even better chance for Arsenal - as Klopp’s two former Borussia Dortmund charges almost combined to open the scoring.
Aubameyang crossed and with Alisson careering off his line, Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s back-header looped wide.
Next it was Arsenal’s turn to experience a let-off when Liverpool had a Sadio Mane effort controversially ruled out for offside.
Trent Alexander-Arnold picked out Firmino with a gorgeous through-ball and the Brazilian lofted over Leno against the post, only for Mane to be flagged when he snaffled the rebound.
Mo Salah was beginning to look dangerous whenever Liverpool broke - and when Xhaka recovered to rob him with a last-ditch tackle, Emery was punching the air as if his side had just scored.
As Liverpool enjoyed a decent spell, Virgil Van Dijk chested down a Salah cross only to his shot blocked by Leno.
Then a smooth length-of-the-field Arsenal passing move ended with a saucy Mkhitaryan back-heel and an Aubameyang shot deflected wide.
Alex Lacazette then dragged one narrowly wide across goal, after a Xhaka pass and a Mesut Ozil flick, and had an effort ruled out when just the four Arsenal players were offside from a free-kick.
Before the break, another Leno blunder - this time Van Dijk heading against the post with the German keeper stranded.
Fabinho was beginning to look a serious liability in midfield - as he was booked for an elbow on Torreira, having just escaped a caution for a late challenge.
But then, having been under the cosh for most of the opening hour, Liverpool were in front.
Mane escaped Hector Bellerin’s attentions and centred from left, his low cross was pushed out by Leno straight at Milner, who punished him with a thudding shot.
He celebrated wildly in front of a gleeful travelling support but Arsenal did not allow their heads to dop as once they might.
Van Dijk had a free header tipped over by Leno but Arsenal were full value for their 82nd-minute leveller.
Sub Alex Iwobi produced the pass and for once Arsenal’s attack were on the right side of a tight offside call, Lacazette timing his run perfectly, then checking, turning and firing beyond Allison.
Salah fired one just over for Liverpool and Bellerin curled one just wide for Arsenal.
Liverpool went top for the night but Emery’s men had turned in the more significant performance.
They’ve been gone and long time but the Arsenal are back.