After an error-strewn league debut Petr Cech provided a timely reminder of his undoubted class with some stunning saves as he marshalled a nervous Arsenal to a goalless draw against Liverpool on Monday.
Advertisement
“We have started very average I must concede”, Wenger said.
They have now taken just four points from a possible nine in their opening fixtures having lost at home to West Ham on the opening day, and recovering to win away at Crystal Palace.
“We wanted to get something to keep the run going and I think we can be happy with the way we played”.
Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho went closest to breaking the deadlock when he hit the crossbar after only two minutes before Petr Cech pulled off a fingertip save to tip the Brazilian’s curling effort onto the post.
Calum Chambers and Gabriel were thrown together, with the former struggling against Benteke and Coutinho in the first half – although Wenger praised his defence for keeping a clean sheet.
There could have been little argument had Liverpool collected all three points, such was their first-half display, but they were ultimately left to rue a fine performance in the Arsenal goal by Cech.
“Our game is still not fluent enough in the final third”.
A week after Liverpool was the beneficiary of an offside being missed when Benteke scored the victor against Bournemouth, Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey wrongly had a goal ruled out for offside after he met a precise throughball from Santi Cazorla.
However, Arsene Wenger was in no mood for laughing, saying: “It was a regular goal”.
“It was important tonight (Monday) not to lose, because you could see that was a shock for us and it was important to get that game out of the system”. “I could prove to you that it’s not necessarily right“, Wenger said when asked about the need for more “powerful” midfielders by reporters. You see it on the screens, they go off for 20 seconds and they get the decision right in the end.
“It’s always great to have someone who can help you”.
“We definitely could have had all three points”, he added.
The Frenchman said the midfielder’s first-half strike should have stood, insisting the Welshman made his run from behind his marker. First half in particular we created chances and should have been in front. Congratulations to the keeper.
Advertisement
The Reds have the chance to move into first place in the Premier League when they take on West Ham United next weekend – depending on other results.
