Point proven? Well, not exactly. Just when Arsenal looked ready to lay down a real marker for their title aspirations, a rejuvenated Liverpool side that has been through the wringer since they were crowned champions last season, showed the Gunners remain fallible.
It could have been even worse for Mikel Arteta’s side if Liverpool had been awarded one of two potential penalties or if Conor Bradley’s brilliant chip had not struck the crossbar in the first half.
The Liverpool defender’s night ended with him departing on a stretcher after a frustrated Gabriel Martinelli tried to push him off the pitch as Arsenal chased a winning goal in injury time.
The Brazilian was extremely fortunate to escape a red card for his actions with Bradley left in agony after twisting his knee.
Arne Slot gave Martinelli the benefit of the doubt afterwards but the Liverpool head coach was justifiably delighted with the way his much-maligned defence coped with Arsenal’s threat.
But the fact that the hosts didn’t even manage a shot on target in the second half until a Gabriel Jesus header in injury time is of concern for Arteta as Viktor Gyökeres put in another ineffective display up front.
They may be six points clear of Manchester City and Aston Villa at the top of the table but Arsenal seem unlikely to do things the easy way if they are to end their 22-year wait to be crowned champions.
Arteta had called on the Arsenal supporters to “make the difference” as they attempted to take advantage of City and Villa’s slip-ups on Wednesday night.
Even the torrential rain before kick-off caused by Storm Goretti could dampen the feeling of optimism as the home fans held up a mosaic of red and white plastic bags when the teams emerged. Yet a dogged Liverpool side who were without a recognised striker were in no mood to roll over.
Slot’s solution to the continued absence of the injured Hugo Ekitiké was to select Mr Versatile Dominik Szoboszlai as a false 9 with Florian Wirtz in support.
It didn’t take Bukayo Saka very long to realise that he had the beating of Milos Kerkez, who was perhaps a surprise selection at left-back ahead of the more experienced Andy Robertson. One mesmerising run that left the Hungary defender and Alexis Mac Allister in his slipstream should have resulted in the opening goal but Martín Zubimendi was just the wrong side of his cutback. Saka then tried his luck from just outside the area with a shot that was parried away by Alisson.
Liverpool slowly began to establish a foothold in midfield and it was the visitors who came closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half after an uncharacteristic mistake from William Saliba that was more down to being too casual than any nerves.
The France defender had been alert to the danger when Bradley tried to play in Jeremie Frimpong but his back pass to David Raya took the goalkeeper by surprise and he could only play the ball straight into Bradley’s path. His chip looked destined for the empty net but struck the crossbar and Cody Gakpo’s follow-up was blocked.
The half’s moment of controversy arrived 10 minutes before the break when Frimpong went down awkwardly under pressure from Piero Hincapié in the area, although it was hard to tell if there was any significant contact. He stayed down as play continued, with Leandro Trossard seeing his shot deflected wide at the other end. Liverpool’s players immediately surrounded the referee Anthony Taylor, with Declan Rice and Virgil van Dijk exchanging some choice words.
The visiting supporters had reason to feel hard done by again at the start of the second half when Wirtz jinked his way past three players into the area and was about to shoot when Trossard intervened with a clumsy challenge that could easily have resulted in a penalty. Luckily for Arsenal, Taylor and the video assistant referee felt otherwise.
Despite the increased urgency in the stands, the hosts were struggling to match the intensity that blew Villa away in the second half of their last home fixture with four goals.
There were huge groans when Zubimendi got in the way of a Trossard cross meant for Saka before Hincapié was forced off with an injury.
Szoboszlai was given an opportunity to replicate his free-kick from Liverpool’s win against Arsenal back in August but this time his effort sailed high and wide to much derision, even if he was much closer with another effort eight minutes from full-time.
It was Liverpool who looked more likely to break the deadlock as Frimpong broke free but could not pick out the waiting Wirtz.
The arrival of Gabriel Jesus from the bench for the ineffective Gyökeres, who has now gone 11 games without scoring from open play, was greeted with cheers from the home supporters desperate for their side to find a winner.
The closest they came was when Gabriel Magalhães headed wide from a corner with the last action of the match that would have gone a long way to settling Arsenal’s nerves.
Valverde, Rodrygo Move Real Madrid Past Atlético In Super Cup
Real Madrid hold on and so does Xabi Alonso, all the way to the final.
Judgment was due to come in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, but it will be put off for another day at least, and instead of the sack there may be a medal waiting at the end of a month spent on edge after Real defeated Atlético 2-1.
Goals from Fede Valverde and Rodrygo set up another Super Cup meeting with Barcelona on Sunday night, opportunity and obligation in one.
On a night when Madrid scored after 77 seconds, Atlético’s last opportunity to get a result they probably deserved and force a penalty shootout slipped agonisingly away with only 10 more seconds remaining. Julián Alvarez had it, Antoine Griezmann almost did, but, in at last, a shot from the former just evaded the latter. As the ball bounced past the post, it took Atlético’s hopes with it.
Again, an encounter with their neighbours was hard to take and not that easy to explain either.
That was Atlético’s 22nd shot, but they had trailed from the beginning when Gonzalo García, a 21-year-old replacement for Kylian Mbappé, chested down to Jude Bellingham inside the first minute. Conor Gallagher challenged him and, although there didn’t seem to be much in it, Real were handed the free-kick from which Valverde belted in the opener.
From 25 yards and with a poorly constructed three-man wall standing before him, Valverde send a superb shot in a straight, rising arrow past Alex Sørloth and into the net. It wasn’t right in the corner, but with that side of the goal unprotected, it was far enough away for Jan Oblak, occupying the other side, to be unable to get more than a slight touch upon it.
Real had taken the lead but Atlético took control. Perhaps because Real had taken the lead. One shot had been enough, and for a while it was all Real had; not that Atlético’s possession immediately yielded opportunities.
Slowly, though, they were increasing the pressure, Real dropping ever deeper. Álex Baena almost released Alvarez, Sørloth’s effort went over, Alvarez had a shot blocked and Giuliano slipped as he raced into the area going at full, lung-busting pelt which often appears to be the only speed he can go at.
Only García was really offering a way out, a constantly reliable recipient of the long ball. But then, just before the half hour, from an Atlético corner that led to a blocked shot from Marcos Llorente, Real were suddenly away and should have doubled their lead.
Álvaro Carreras started the charge before Rodrygo took over, ran into the Atlético area, cut inside, sending the defender sliding past and out of shot, but then, clear now, shot weakly at Oblak. A moment later, Vinícius headed way over the bar from close range.
Atlético kept on, Real struggling to resist – especially on the left, where Carreras was often alone against the dynamism of Llorente and Giuliano. Occasionally moves broke down with the imprecision of Alvarez, a tad slow mentally, and Baena combined incisive passes with imprecise ones.
But Atlético’s opportunities did become clearer. On 31 minutes Thibaut Courtois saved from Baena, then he made a superb save from a Sørloth header at the near post. A moment later, Sørloth somehow headed over from five yards, if that. Llorente and Giuliano had made it again.
The lead could have come then and really should have soon after when Baena took the ball from Eduardo Camavinga, dribbled into the area, away from Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni. Having made himself space, the toe-end shot was saved by Courtois. The first rebound came to Alvarez, whose shot was blocked by Antonio Rüdiger – possibly with an arm, seen at full speed, but no slower view followed – and the second to Gallagher. His shot skewed wide. It was also the last thing he did, withdrawn at half-time. Real had faced 10 shots but made it there still holding the lead.
And so it started again in the second half, everyone soon settling into the same pattern, Rüdiger intervening early. Or so it seemed.
A sharp pass from Valverde was taken in his stride by Rodrygo, who escaped Robin Le Normand and slipped through the middle to steer a neat finish past Oblak. This was done, or so that seemed too. Because almost immediately a familiar path this time did bear fruit. Giuliano and Llorente combined to go past Vinícius, who didn’t do a huge amount to go with them. Giuliano clipped up the cross to the far post, where Sørloth headed in. There was an hour to go and the game was back on.
It was an indication of the damage being done that briefly Alonso moved Bellingham across to protect the left and then with 20 minutes left, was obliged to restructure his defence entirely, Rüdiger and Raúl Asencio were both forced off. Tchouaméni moved back, Carreras moved across to join him at centre-back and the two men introduced, Fran García and Ferland Mendy, became double left-backs.
Vinícius was withdrawn, his 16th Madrid game in a row going by without a goal. On the touchline Simeone, with whom words had been exchanged repeatedly, gestured for him to listen to the supporters who were whistling the Brazilian, another brief confrontation flaring up and Alonso later censoring his counterpart’s behaviour.
Tiredness told. This was about holding on, seeing out the clock. The good news for Real was that time was passing and Atlético were not creating much now.
In fact, Real had the best opportunity, Rodrygo accepting a gift inside the area only to be denied by Oblak, until Atlético raised themselves for one last effort despite the exhaustion. Courtois saved an overhead kick from Griezmann. Llorente, who must have four lungs, curled just wide. And Tchouaméni produced a sensational interception to prevent the Frenchman getting the equaliser, until on 95min 33sec Atlético’s moment came and then went again. Resisting, Real’s moment awaits still.
*PHOTO CAPTION: A feisty moment during Arsenal vs Liverpool… yesterday.
