Arsenal share points with Liverpool: When xG hits rock bottom and the attack disappears at Emirates

The highly anticipated match between Arsenal and Liverpool in the 21st round of the Premier League ended in a dull 0-0 draw under torrential rain at the Emirates. Despite expectations of a fiery clash directly impacting the top spot, the 90 minutes unfolded as a stalemate, with both defenses dominating against tired attacking players.

A goal drought stemming from poor xG (xG) statistics.

Statistics are the most accurate reflection of the low quality of play in this match. Both top English teams failed to create any truly clear-cut scoring opportunities. Arsenal's expected goals (xG) was a mere 0.57, while Liverpool's was even more modest at 0.36.

Instead of well-coordinated attacks tearing apart defenses, spectators witnessed only disjointed individual efforts or numerous speculative long-range shots. With such alarmingly low quality of chances, a goalless draw was the inevitable consequence, accurately reflecting the events on the pitch.

The Kop's woes stem from their ineffective attack.

Liverpool's biggest problem on their trip to London was their finishing. Despite having slightly more possession (52%), Arne Slot's side proved completely ineffective in the final third of the pitch. Throughout the 90 minutes, Liverpool unleashed eight shots but none were on target – a worrying sign for a title contender.

Expected goalscorers like Dominik Szoboszlai, despite attempting three shots in the second half, all lacked accuracy. The visitors' most dangerous chance actually came from a misplaced pass by William Saliba in the 27th minute, allowing Conor Bradley to hit the crossbar of the Arsenal goal.

The wasteful finishing of the home team Arsenal's strikers.

While Liverpool were harmless, Arsenal had reason to regret their wasteful finishing. The Gunners had nine shots, four of which were on target, but lacked the necessary composure in crucial moments. Viktor Gyokeres had a lackluster performance before being substituted early due to his failure to put pressure on the opposing defense.

Meanwhile, Gabriel Martinelli and his teammates repeatedly made crucial mistakes at key moments. A prime example was in the 85th minute, when instead of a low pass to a teammate in a favorable position, the Brazilian player opted for an ill-advised lofted pass. The culmination of this disappointment was Gabriel Magalhaes' header that went wide of the post in the 90+7th minute, capping off a dismal performance from the home team's attack.

Alisson Becker was a bright spot, but the tempo was disrupted.

It would be a major oversight not to mention the brilliance of Alisson Becker. On a day when the visiting team's attack underperformed, the Brazilian goalkeeper became their most reliable anchor. Alisson denied Arsenal at least three clear scoring opportunities, including Declan Rice's low shot (43rd minute), Gabriel Jesus's header (90+1 minute), and Martinelli's late strike.

Furthermore, the pace of the game was frequently interrupted by injuries to Conor Bradley and Bukayo Saka, as well as constant collisions. Referee Anthony Taylor had to issue a series of yellow cards towards the end of the match to cool down heated tempers, which inadvertently dampened the enthusiasm of both teams, resulting in the epic clash ending in silence from the stands.