Lacklustre Arsenal held to dour 0-0 draw by Liverpool

LONDON, Jan 8 : ‌Arsenal missed the chance to go eight points clear at the top of the Premier League in a turgid 0-0 draw with champions Liverpool at a rain-drenched Emirates Stadium on Thursday.

Mikel Arteta's side had won seven successive home league games and were expected to take advantage of their title rivals dropping points the previous night against an injury-hit Liverpool who started without a recognised striker.

Liverpool looked in danger of being overrun early on but grew in stature and came closest to breaking the deadlock when Conor Bradley struck the crossbar in the first half.

Arsenal sent on a host of attacking substitutes after the break but too little effect as a cagey game petered out.

The draw put Arsenal ‌six points clear of Manchester City and Aston Villa while Liverpool remain fourth, 14 points adrift despite ‌a nine-game unbeaten league run.

Arsenal failed to exert any pressure on Liverpool in a forgettable second half and did not earn a corner until deep in stoppage time but even their famed set-pieces proved harmless.

There were glum faces among the Arsenal players at fulltime and in the stands, although with 17 games remaining the London club are favourites to claim a first English title since 2004.

"The second half was a real struggle," Arteta said. "These games need a magic moment but it didn't happen. But if you can't win it then don't lose it.

"We have had a very demanding schedule with six games over the Christmas period and ‍we have come out of that in a really strong position."

Liverpool were worth their point but suffered more injury woe late on when Bradley left the field on a stretcher - the incident causing an ugly melee after Gabriel Martinelli tried to push the stricken player off the pitch