London, January 8, 2026 – Arsenal’s pursuit of their first Premier League title since 2004 took a slightly frustrating turn on Thursday night as the Gunners were held to a 0-0 draw by Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium. The result sees Arsenal move to 48 points, extending their lead at the top of the table to six points.
The match lived up to its billing as a clash between two tactical heavyweights, with each manager making their mark on different periods of the game. Arsenal dominated the opening 45 minutes, with Bukayo Saka and Jurriën Timber causing constant problems down the right flank. The Gunners’ high-tempo pressing pinned Liverpool back for large stretches, with Martin Ødegaard and Saka linking up effectively to create opportunities.
However, the best chance of the first half fell to Liverpool’s Conor Bradley. A mix-up between William Saliba and David Raya presented the young full-back with a golden opportunity. Still, his chipped effort struck the crossbar, keeping the scores level going into halftime.
The second period told a completely different story. Liverpool emerged from the tunnel with renewed purpose, dominating possession and pushing Arsenal deep into their own half. The visitors controlled 65% of possession after the break and completed more than double the number of passes in the final third compared to Arsenal.
Despite their territorial advantage, Liverpool struggled to create clear-cut chances and remarkably finished the match without registering a single shot on target, their first Premier League game without one since March 2010. Arsenal’s defensive resilience, led by Saliba and Gabriel, proved impenetrable even under sustained pressure.
What the Draw Means
For Arsenal, this was an opportunity missed. With Manchester City and Aston Villa both dropping points in midweek, the Gunners had the chance to extend their lead to eight points. Instead, they settled for one point, though they remain comfortably at the summit with 48 points from 21 matches.
Manager Mikel Arteta acknowledged the mixed performance: “We had two different halves. The first one, where we had a lot of domination, we didn’t find the right pass to score the goal. The second half was a bit more of a struggle.”
For Liverpool, sitting in fourth place with 34 points, the draw extended their unbeaten run to 10 matches in all competitions. However, Arne Slot’s side will rue their lack of cutting edge, particularly with top scorer Hugo Ekitike missing through injury.
The match ended on a sour note when Bradley was stretchered off in stoppage time after landing awkwardly. The incident was compounded by Gabriel Martinelli’s controversial attempt to push the injured defender off the pitch, sparking angry reactions from Liverpool players and pundits alike.
Viktor Gyökeres, Arsenal’s summer signing, endured a quiet evening and was substituted after an hour, highlighting ongoing questions about the Gunners’ attacking options in crucial moments.
Arsenal’s six-point cushion at the top remains healthy, but this result serves as a reminder that the title race is far from over. The Gunners’ inability to capitalize when rivals slip up could prove costly in the run-in, particularly if their second-half struggles against top opposition persist.