Arsenal Player Ratings vs Liverpool
Arsenal squandered yet another opportunity to establish themselves as title favourites as unlikely hero Joe Allen cancelled out their slender lead in the dying moments of the fixture that saw either team create enough chances to claim all three points only to ultimately share the spoils.
Roberto Firmino twice gave Liverpool the lead in the first half, but Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud quickly equalised. The French striker appeared to have earned a historic victory for the Gunners with his second goal, but a resurgent Jurgen Klopp side managed to salvage a point.
Petr Cech – 6
The Czech Republic international could have punched the initial effort from Emre Can to a corner kick, but he only allowed Roberto Firmino to curl a wondrous effort past him. Although he was beaten thrice, he could not have done much about the goals.
Hector Bellerin – 7
The former Barcelona starlet had an uninspiring start, with Alberto Moreno cutting inside frequently, but he eventually grew into the game. Though he failed to emulate his performance against Sunderland, he had a brilliant game going forward, while also being defensively alert.
Laurent Koscielny – 6.5
The Arsenal skipper had an average game although he managed some timely clearances. Though he did not commit big mistakes, the London club may have emerged 2-3 victors, had he stepped up.
Per Mertesacker – 7
The World Cup winner put in a solid performance as he twice prevented Adam Lallana from having a crack at the goal. With 16 clearances, seven blocks and two interceptions, he had a rather commanding game, but he could have, at least, tried to close down Joe Allen.
Nacho Monreal – 7
The Spaniard had a brilliant display as he closed down spaces often single-handedly. As always, he read the game well and also managed to intercept in dangerous areas, besides helping out offensively.
Mathieu Flamini – 6.5
Even though he offered very little to the attack, his role in closing down the spaces created by his midfield partner Aaron Ramsey was decisive. With nine clearances and three blocks near and inside of the penalty box, he had an average game.
Aaron Ramsey – 6.5
The Welshman often seemed to have forgotten that he should aid the team defensively. He tried to offer an attacking edge but often handed Liverpool space with which they capitalised superbly.
Theo Walcott – 6
The England forward was nowhere to be seen for most parts of the game, and was clearly the weak link in the Arsenal buildup. He gave away possession on the edge of the penalty box for Liverpool to score their first goal in the six-goal thriller.
Mesut Ozil – 6.5
The former Real Madrid playmaker had a night to forget as he struggled to complete his trademark defense-splitting passes but occasionally looked threatening, albeit with no desired end product. However, he should be appreciated for trying as he previously used to disappear when things go wrong.
Joel Campbell – 8
The 24-year-old winger had yet another solid game that would see him keep his spot even after the return of Alexis Sanchez. He put in a shift as he regularly does by helping Hector Bellerin with his defensive duties. On a night Mesut Ozil failed to deliver, he took up the responsibility, and his hot-knife-through-butter pass to assist Aaron Ramsey bears testimony to his standout performance.
Olivier Giroud – 8
The towering Frenchman missed a glorious chance to make it 2-3 at the break but did make up for it in the second half. He had an outstanding game and also won over the fans as he kissed the crest.
Match Highlights
Arsenal captain Leah Williamson has been announced as a National Year of Reading ambassador following the official launch of the 2026 campaign at Emirates Stadium.
The Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson unveiled the Go All In initiative on January 13, positioning reading as a gateway to enhancing passions across all walks of life.
Williamson joined a stellar lineup of ambassadors including author Julia Donaldson, illustrator Axel Scheffler, poet Jackie Kay, and several other prominent figures from literature and public life. The event marked a significant moment for literacy promotion in the country, with the campaign centred on the message that reading can deepen enjoyment of whatever people already love.
A Message From the Pitch
Speaking at the launch, Williamson drew parallels between football and reading. She said the National Year of Reading represents a chance to fully commit to personal passions through literature in all its forms. The Arsenal skipper encouraged people to seize the opportunity by picking up books, listening to audiobooks, or diving into articles related to their interests. Her involvement underscores how sports figures can champion reading beyond their professional domains.
Resetting Reading Culture
Joanna Prior, chief executive of Pan Macmillan and chair of The National Literacy Trust, described the launch as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform how Britain views books.
The ambition extends beyond traditional reading spaces, aiming to make literature accessible in communities, schools, and even on football pitches. Prior emphasized stripping away pressure and stigma around reading, making it relevant and enjoyable rather than obligatory.
The campaign represents a coordinated national effort to boost literacy rates and foster a genuine love of reading across all demographics and age groups throughout 2026.
Also read: Jodie Taylor Appointed Arsenal Women’s First Ever Technical Director
Arsenal Women host Manchester United on Saturday in a crucial six pointer for Champions League qualification. The Gunners sit just one point above United in the WSL table and victory at Emirates Stadium would give them a strong buffer, while defeat leaves them playing catch up in the race for Europe.
The match marks Arsenal’s return from the winter break following a busy week that saw Renee Slegers sign a new contract and Jodie Taylor promoted to Technical Director. However, the immediate focus is on securing three points against Marc Skinner’s side in what promises to be a tense encounter.
Kick-off: 12:30 GMT, Saturday, January 11, 2026
Venue: Emirates Stadium, London
TV: Sky Sports (UK)
Cooney Cross Absent For Personal Reasons
Arsenal will be without Kyra Cooney Cross who has returned to Australia for personal reasons. Daphne van Domselaar is not quite ready to return from a quad injury while Chloe Kelly remains out with a knee problem. Jenna Nighswonger will not be in the matchday squad as she negotiates a loan move.
New signing Smilla Holmberg from Hammarby will be in the squad alongside recalled goalkeeper Naomi Williams. Manu Zinsberger and Katie Reid are out with ACL injuries. The absence of Cooney Cross means Mariona will likely drop into the deeper midfield role she has occupied for much of the last year.
United Strengthened in January
Manchester United have been busy in the transfer window, adding full back Hanna Lundkvist from San Diego Wave and centre forward Lea Schuller from Bayern Munich. Skinner was dealt a poor hand over the summer with a very small squad handling Champions League qualifiers and the group phase.
Predicted Lineup:
Arsenal (4-3-3): Borbe; Fox, Williamson, Catley, McCabe; Little, Mariona, Maanum; Mead, Russo, Smith
Manchester United (4-2-3-1): Tullis Joyce; Lundkvist, Le Tissier, Janssen, Sandberg; Miyazawa, Zigiotti; Park, Malard, Awujo; Schuller
Also read: Arsenal Women disable social media comments after sexist backlash to new signing
Arsenal confirmed on January 9, 2026 that Jodie Taylor has been appointed as the club’s first ever Technical Director.
The 39-year-old former England striker moves up from her existing role as Technical Services Manager, a position she has held since September 2023 following her retirement from professional football.
Taylor’s promotion comes on the same day Arsenal announced Renee Slegers’ new contract extension through 2029, creating a strategic restructuring of the women’s football department.
A Decade Long Arsenal Connection
Taylor’s relationship with Arsenal spans ten years since first joining as a player in 2016. She scored 10 goals in 17 appearances during her initial spell before returning on a short-term deal in March 2023. Taylor earned 50 plus England caps during her international career and won the Golden Boot at Euro 2017.
She represented her country at the 2015 Women’s World Cup finishing third and played for multiple elite clubs including Lyon, Orlando Pride, Portland Thorns and San Diego Wave throughout her career.
Strategic Structural Development
Taylor’s new role bridges critical areas of football operations including recruitment, analysis, coaching and performance support. She will work closely with Renee Slegers on a daily basis as the Technical Director, providing structural support for coaching decisions and squad development.
Director of Women’s Football Clare Wheatley praised Taylor’s appointment as integral to continued development of the program as Arsenal challenges for major trophies consistently. Wheatley will now focus on upward management across UEFA, FIFA and domestic boards while Taylor handles day to day operations.
Building a High Performance Environment
Taylor expressed immense pride stepping into her new position, emphasizing Arsenal’s remarkable growth over the past decade. She committed to nurturing a high-performance environment where players, coaching staff and support teams have the right tools to deliver at the highest level.
Her appointment represents investment in female leadership within Arsenal’s technical infrastructure, aligning with the club’s commitment to developing their women’s program systematically and strategically moving forward into their next phase.
Also read: Arsenal Women disable social media comments after sexist backlash to new signing
- Liverpool13 years ago
Raheem Sterling Age 17 Kids 3 Women 2
- Arsenal13 years ago
Etienne Capoue To Become An Arsenal Player In Summer
- Arsenal13 years ago
Arsenal Defender Nacho Monreal Doesn’t Agree The Direction The Club Is Going.
- Arsenal13 years ago
Robin van Persie wants to move back to Arsenal
- Arsenal13 years ago
Report: Arsenal Could Sign A Striker Next Week
- Headlines13 years ago
Manchester United Preparing A (Javier Hernandez + De Gea + 55 Million) Bid For Ronaldo
- Arsenal13 years ago
Arsenal Planning To Bring In ‘Next Fabregas’
- Headlines13 years ago
Three Reasons Why Manchester United Must Sign This “Next Vidic”