Ray Parlour reserved special praise for two Arsenal players after the Gunners’ 2-2 Premier League draw with Liverpool.
Arsenal looked set to restore their eight-point advantage over Manchester City when they raced into a two-goal lead at Anfield, but had to settle for a point as the hosts hit back through Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino.
Gabriel Martinelli gave Arsenal an early lead when he combined with Bukayo Saka to poke past Alisson, before the winger assisted his Brazil team-mate Gabriel Jesus with a pinpoint cross for the visitors’ second goal.
Parlour says Martinelli was ‘different class’ at Anfield and ‘took advantage’ of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s defensive limitations.
‘He was different class,’ Parlour said on Premier League Productions. ‘I did think that would be an area Arsenal could get some joy.
‘We know Trent can be vulnerable and Martinelli took advantage of that. He picked out Jesus brilliantly for the second goal. Martinelli is a livewire, we all know that.’
Parlour also hailed ‘superb’ Aaron Ramsdale after Arsenal goalkeeper made a string of important saves to deny Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez and Ibrahima Konate.
Some pundits have suggested Arsenal would have left Anfield disappointed after forfeiting a two-goal lead but Parlour believes it was a ‘good point’ for his former club.
‘I could sense that the lads were really disappointed by the end of the game,’ Parlour told Four Four Two. ‘No doubts about that, being in that position and letting it slip was a little disappointing.
‘But I think looking back on it this week, it was a good point. I know Liverpool haven’t been great this season, they got turned over by Real Madrid but they’ve been excellent at home, they always are: they’ve beaten Manchester City and Manchester United at home, they’ve had some big results at Anfield.
‘When Arsenal look back at it, the scenario of it and how it went, they will be disappointed I’m sure but at the end of the day, they got a point out of the game and they could have lost it.
‘When they look back at the last 10, 15 minutes, Aaron Ramsdale made some unbelievable saves to keep them in the game. He was superb today, absolutely brilliant. You need a good goalkeeper if you’re going to win the league.
‘All you’ve got to do is move on: West Ham United up next, all concentration on that, forget about Liverpool and make sure you pick up points in the next two. Pick up points, put more pressure on Man City – although they don’t look like losing, I must admit.’
MORE : Gary Neville makes title prediction after Arsenal draw with Liverpool
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