Mikel Arteta names the three Arsenal stars who were "phenomenal"
Arsenal held on to top spot in the Premier League after drawing with Liverpool on Saturday and manager Mikel Arteta singled out a trio of stars for praise after the game
Mikel Arteta felt his whole team played a part in the draw with Liverpool on Saturday, but the Arsenal boss still had time to heap particular praise on three of his star men.
Arteta's Arsenal took an early lead at Anfield through Gabriel, only for Mohamed Salah to equalise after the hosts saw penalty appeals rejected. Neither side found a winner, though, meaning Arsenal sit top of the table at Christmas with Liverpool second.
Gabriel and centre-back partner William Saliba has a big role to play in protecting the point, while Declan Rice pulled his weight in front of the pair as Arsenal's deepest-lying midfielder. After the game, Arteta was asked about the trio and made no secret of how he felt about their display.
"Those three were phenomenal but I think the whole team as well and how we step up to the level that they put today, is one of the best Liverpool’s I’ve seen this year," Arteta told reporters. "They made life really difficult. The game became really, really chaotic, the crowd provokes that as well but we handled the situation really well."
Both teams had spells on top, while 13 shots apiece points to a game which either side could have won. In the end, though, Arteta and opposite number Jurgen Klopp had to make do with a point apiece.
"It was an unbelievable game of football, one of the most intense and hectic games that I have witnessed in 20 years in this league," Arteta said. "The quality, the intentions of both teams… It was superb to watch it and we as a team with the boys willing to play at that level, to have the courage to play at that level, the determination and belief to do what we’ve done here, I think my players deserve big, big credit."
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“It was a very, very tough game for us, especially after the game we had this week but, defensively, I think we were very solid. It was a solid game from everyone and everyone gave his all and everyone was fighting because this period was tough.
“We got rewarded this time with the win and the forward players made the difference today with their quality. They were very clinical and the team is going well and hopefully we keep going that way.”
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