5 Encouraging Signs to Take from the Arsenal Game

Even though Liverpool won away at Arsenal for the first time in eleven years, it must be said that although it was a great result, the Gunners were nowhere their best with the absence of some key players. So I don’t feel it is appropriate to overplay the significance of the display, but considering the number of new players that Liverpool are trying to bed into the squad, there are some very encouraging signs from the weekend.

1) Full Backs – Martin Kelly and Jose Enrique played very well in their positions against the Gunners. Many have pointed out that they kept both Theo Walcott and Andrei Arshavin quiet, although it must be said they weren’t given much of the ball due to the quality of passing from Aaron Ramsey and Samir Nasri, but it was their ability to get forward, which were equally, if not more impressive. Kelly was powerful as always with the ball at feet and showed his ambition to get forward when he unluckily hit the post. Enrique provided some good deliveries into the box from the left.

2) Stewart Downing – Direct with his running and a constant threat throughout the match, the winger has had a good start to his time with the Reds. What has been noticeable, not only of Downing, is that the entire Reds midfield is very fluid and Henderson, Downing and Kuyt swapped positions constantly during the match, keeping the Arsenal defence occupied. Downing was especially mobile, popping up on the left and the right in equal measure.