Arsenal 2-2 Liverpool: Stats Show Injury Impact

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Post on Oct 28, 2024

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Arsenal 2-2 Liverpool: Stats Show Injury Impact, But Was It Really Enough?

The North London derby was a wild one, eh? Arsenal and Liverpool fought tooth and nail, and the final score of 2-2 reflected just how intense the game was. Both teams had their chances, and both teams also had some big misses.

But one thing that really stood out was the impact of injuries. Both sides were missing key players, and it definitely showed on the pitch.

The Numbers Don't Lie: Injury-Riddled Squads

Let's be real - Arsenal and Liverpool are two of the best teams in the league. But they were both missing some of their best players. Liverpool was without Trent Alexander-Arnold and Luis Diaz, while Arsenal was missing Gabriel Jesus and Reiss Nelson. This was a huge difference, especially for Arsenal, who were already short on attacking options.

The stats back it up, too. Liverpool had 57% possession, compared to Arsenal's 43%. This was a huge shift from their previous games, where Arsenal were usually the dominant side. And even though Liverpool had more possession, it didn't translate into many clear-cut chances. They only had 1.3 xG (expected goals) in the game, which is lower than their average.

Arsenal, on the other hand, were really struggling to create chances. Their xG was only 0.8. This shows how much Gabriel Jesus and Reiss Nelson were missed in the final third. They just couldn't find that extra bit of magic that those two usually provide.

Was It Really Enough?

Look, it's easy to say "injury woes" and move on, right? But it's important to consider the impact these absences had. Without their star players, both sides struggled to break down their opponent's defenses. This led to a game that felt like it was more about not losing than winning.

Of course, both teams were playing great football in their own ways. You can't take anything away from either team. The game was entertaining, the atmosphere was electric, and both sides showed great fight. It's just a shame that the injuries made the game a bit less exciting than it could have been.

The next time these two teams meet, it'll be interesting to see how the scoreline compares, assuming both sides have their full squads back. But for now, we can say that this game was a testament to the power of injuries, and how they can really impact the outcome of even the biggest games.