Crazy night ends all square

Arsenal 2 Liverpool 2

Roberto Mancini was in the crowd with a hat that made him look like Inspector Clouseau but it was Arsenal’s dreadful defending that drew the big laughs. Liverpool looked nothing like the under-achievers dumped out of the FA Cup by a League One side, as had happened at Oldham on Sunday, yet they could not cope with an immense attacking barrage when two goals to the good and the game theirs for the taking.

Much of it was a comedy of errors, but a breathtaking 90 minutes nonetheless, and it all began with Luis Suarez’s fifth-minute opener.

Bacary Sagna’s slip let Glen Johnson fire in a cross from the left that Thomas Vermaelen was perfectly placed to clear but somehow the Belgian missed the ball completely, letting in Daniel Sturridge behind him. Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny was able to block but Suarez was there to dispatch the rebound, off the hapless Sagna.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admitted after that his side looked “nervous” in defence.

“It was a fantastic game with both teams going for it,” Wenger said. “We have shown great quality and spirit but we were nervous defensively. Going forward I felt we were absolutely outstanding all night.”

Asked what was behind the defensive nerves, Wenger added: “Recent history in the big games at home plays a part, you could sense it from outside.

“We have to get rid of that psychological factor when you play at home defensively.”

If that early concession was slapstick of the highest order it was quickly followed by some quality football from the home side as Jack Wilshere’s pass set up Theo Walcott only for Pepe Reina to pull off an excellent save.

Suarez was determined to be the game’s outstanding individual, however, and a breathtaking pass from the halfway line with the outside of his boot sent Sturridge away. This time he failed to hit the target but within seconds had robbed Szczesny of possession as Arsenal’s penchant for self-harm came to the fore again.

The former Chelsea man was not able to make anything of the opportunity however and Arsenal came close again via a first-time effort from Olivier Giroud.

It was soon time for some more calamitous Arsenal defending that almost led to a second Liverpool goal, with Per Mertesacker the culprit with a pass straight to Jordan Henderson. Vermaelen made sure only a corner ensued but Daniel Agger met that with a header that Lukas Podolski hacked off the line.

Still the entertainment flowed; Stewart Downing opened up the home defence and Szczesny came off second best in his race with Jordan Henderson but fortunately for Arsenal the midfielder’s chip ended up on top of the net.

The half-time whistle was met with boos from the home fans, who were relieved when Vermaelen’s double handball in the box early in the second period went undetected.

Andre Wisdom was perhaps fortunate referee Kevin Friend was unmoved by a challenge that floored Podolski in the Liverpool area before Walcott planted a header over from close range.

Disaster was still stalking Arsenal and arrived again on the hour mark as Henderson, of all people, was able to simultaneously skill and muscle his way past Mertesacker and Santos and find the net.

Yet Arsenal were neither bowed nor beaten as Giroud helped conjure two goals in the space of three minutes, first by heading home Jack Wilshere’s free-kick and then setting up Walcott for an emphatic angled finish.

Arsenal could have won it — but there were two late Suarez chances too on a night to forget for the home defence.

“It was a wonderful game,” Rodgers added. “Normally you would be bitterly disappointed not to have won but I can only be proud of the players, I thought they were absolutely magnificent.”

ARSENAL (4-2-3-1): Szcesny 7; Sagna 3, Mertesacker 2, Vermaelen 4, Gibbs 6 (Santos 36, 3); Ramsey 6, Wilshere 7; Walcott 8, Cazorla 7, Podolski 7; Giroud 8.

LIVERPOOL (4-1-2-2-1): Reina 8; Wisdom 6, Carragher 7, Agger 7, Johnson 7; Lucas 6; Henderson 6, Gerrard 7; Downing 7, Suarez 8; Sturridge 7 (Enrique 71).

Referee: Kevin Friend 6.