Key Points
- Arsenal and Liverpool played out a tense 0-0 draw at the Emirates Stadium on 8 January 2026, denying Arsenal the chance to extend their lead to eight points over Manchester City and Aston Villa.
- The match was characterised by low expected goals (xG): less than one combined, with Arsenal at 0.57-0.62 xG and Liverpool at 0.36 xG; Liverpool had no shots on target, Arsenal managed four but none threatening until stoppage time.
- Possession was even (Arsenal 48%, Liverpool 52%), with Arsenal holding 57% field tilt but the teams largely cancelling each other out in a stalemate under rainy conditions.
- Conor Bradley of Liverpool hit the crossbar in the 27th minute after a mix-up between Arsenal’s David Raya and William Saliba, Liverpool’s closest chance.
- Arsenal dominated the first half with efforts from Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice saved by Alisson Becker, but failed to score; Liverpool controlled the second half with Dominik Szoboszlai’s long-range shots their best efforts.
- Liverpool defender Conor Bradley was stretchered off late with an apparent knee injury after landing awkwardly; Gabriel Martinelli’s attempt to move him led to pushing and shoving, described as “disgraceful” by Gary Neville.
- Substitutes Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli tested Alisson in stoppage time for Arsenal, but no goals resulted.
- Post-match, Arsenal remain six points clear of Manchester City and Aston Villa, with Liverpool 14 points behind in fourth, extending their unbeaten run to 10 games.
- This was the first 0-0 Premier League draw between the sides since August 2015; Arsenal have not scored in a league match for the first time since a prior Liverpool encounter.
- Mikel Arteta remains winless against Arne Slot (D3 L1); Liverpool failed to have a shot on target in a Premier League game for the first time since March 2010.​
- Liverpool missing key players: Hugo Ekitike (injured), Alexander Isak, Mohamed Salah (AFCON), Wataru Endo, Giovanni Leoni, Stefan Bajcetic.
What Happened in the Tense 0-0 Draw?
Arsenal hosted Liverpool at a sodden Emirates Stadium on Thursday 8 January 2026, in a Premier League clash laden with title implications. As reported by the Premier League’s official match report, Arsenal missed the chance to go eight points clear at the top after Manchester City’s 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday, settling instead for a goalless stalemate with the defending champions. The game unfolded under heavy rain and wind, contributing to a low-quality affair where neither side seriously threatened to break the deadlock.
Senior Football Journalist Oliver Yew of Sky Sports detailed how an expectant atmosphere gripped north London, with Arsenal aiming to bolster their bid for a first title in 22 years following dropped points by rivals Manchester City and Aston Villa. Yet, the Gunners could not follow the script, starting strongly but failing to capitalise. Liverpool, managed by Arne Slot, extended their unbeaten run across all competitions to 10 games, showing resilience despite their fourth-place standing, 14 points adrift.
The two teams created less than one expected goal (xG) between them, as per The Athletic’s match dashboard referenced in the query and corroborated by advanced stats from xgscore.io, with Arsenal narrowly ahead at 0.57-0.62 xG to Liverpool’s 0.36. No shots on target for Liverpool—their first such blank in a Premier League match since March 2010 versus Wigan Athletic—and Arsenal’s four were unthreatening until late. Possession split evenly at 48% Arsenal and 52% Liverpool, though Arsenal’s field tilt reached 57%, indicating slight superiority in general play, but it remained a stalemate of mutual cancellation.
Who Went Closest to Scoring?
Liverpool’s Conor Bradley emerged as the standout threat, striking the crossbar in the 27th minute with a lobbed effort following a defensive error. As detailed in the Premier League report, this came after a mix-up between Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya and defender William Saliba, gifting Bradley the opportunity he nearly converted. Sky Sports’ Oliver Yew confirmed the sequence, noting it as Liverpool’s clearest first-half chance amid Arsenal’s early dominance.
Arsenal built momentum with long-range strikes from Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice, both repelled by Alisson Becker, according to multiple sources including RTE Sport and ESPN. In the second half, Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai unleashed three wayward long-range efforts, their best but ultimately harmless, as per Sky Sports analysis. Stoppage time saw Arsenal substitutes Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli force saves from Alisson, but too late to change the scoreline.
As reported by Liverpool FC’s official site, the opening stages passed without incident under pelting rain, before Arsenal threatened via Saka’s byline cut-back to Florian Wirtz, sparking a positive Liverpool spell midway through the half. The Independent’s Mike Jones highlighted Arsenal’s impressive first 20 minutes, forcing deep defending, but a lack of ruthlessness in the final third.
Why Did Tensions Boil Over Late On?
The match turned bad-tempered in added time when Liverpool’s Conor Bradley landed awkwardly while clearing, requiring a stretcher for an apparent knee injury. Sky Sports’ Oliver Yew reported that Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli attempted to move the downed Bradley, igniting pushing and shoving between players, with pundit Gary Neville labelling Martinelli’s behaviour “disgraceful”. The Independent’s Mike Jones noted this as a “shameful moment” leaving a sour taste in the drab draw.
This incident marked another blow for Liverpool’s injury-hit squad. Premier League reports confirm Bradley joined sidelined players like forward Hugo Ekitike, while Sky Sports lists Alexander Isak, Wataru Endo, Giovanni Leoni, Stefan Bajcetic, and Mohamed Salah (away at AFCON). Liverpool FC’s account praised their grit despite the losses.
What Did Mikel Arteta and Arne Slot Say?
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta addressed the media post-match, as quoted by Sky Sports:
“We know that the margins are very small. I think we have two different halves. The first one, where we have a lot of domination, created big situations with players almost inside the six-yard box to pick a player up, and we didn’t find the right pass to score the goal. And the second half was a bit more of a struggle.”
He added,
“This game needs some magic moments, and at Anfield, [Dominik] Szoboszlai did it, and they won the game, and today it didn’t happen… We’ve come from a very demanding schedule. The last six games that we’ve played in this Christmas period, and we’ve come out of that in a really strong position.”​
Liverpool boss Arne Slot was positive, stating via Sky Sports:
“We showed the quality to come here and win. In the first half, they were the team that played the most in our half. It led to some moments in crosses but not too many chances. In the second half, it was exactly the opposite, where we dominated the ball for almost the whole 45 minutes in their half. The only thing we missed from us, not for the first time, is the moments around the box.”
BBC Sport noted Arteta remains winless against Slot (D3 L1), the only manager to avoid defeat in his first four games against the Spaniard.
Pre-match, Arteta told journalists at Indian Express:
“We’re very excited. It’s a massive game against the champions… We have a point to prove, we’re going to have our crowd creating an amazing atmosphere. We are top of the table, we play at home against a really good opponent.”​
How Does This Affect the Premier League Title Race?
Arsenal now sit six points clear of Manchester City and Aston Villa after 20 matches, having responded to earlier pressure with five straight league wins prior to this draw. The Athletic’s pre-match analysis (via ) highlights historical precedent: teams six points clear after 20 games win the title 66.6% of the time in nine prior instances. RTE.ie reports 51 points remain, but this felt defining in Arsenal’s 22-year title drought bid.
Liverpool consolidate fourth, two points clear of Brentford per YouTube analysis, eight points behind City/Villa per their site. Sky Sports’ Nick Wright at Emirates noted:
“Arsenal are six points clear. The draw is far from disastrous. But this title is far from a formality if they play as poorly as they did in that second half.”
Pundit Roy Keane added:
“Arsenal got a bit tentative… Liverpool took the energy out of the stadium perfectly well.”
Daniel Sturridge observed:
“Arsenal didn’t seem to have any solutions… It did feel like the players were content.”
Player ratings from Sky Sports praised Szoboszlai (8) and Frimpong (8) for Liverpool, Saka (7) for Arsenal. Arsenal halted a seven-game home PL win streak but first failed to score at home this season. Liverpool’s draw, per David Lynch on YouTube, was gritty with contributions from Ryan Gravenberch, Milos Kerkez, and Florian Wirtz.
