Roberto Firmino provided the spark for Liverpool in their exciting encounter in London, where the Brazilian grabbed a goal and an assist as the Reds were forced to settle for a 3-3 draw. After a fantastic first half for the away side, Arsenal began to show their worth despite going 2-0 down, when they recovered miraculously to score three goals in just five second-half minutes, yet Firmino added a third for Liverpool to secure a point for the Reds in a thrilling affair.
Firmino’s exquisite through ball set Mohamed Salah on his way to add to his ever-growing goal tally for his new club, where, in the 52 minute, the Egyptian forced an effort past Petr Cech after Philippe Coutinho’s earlier header had made it 1-0 to the away side. Firmino’s perfectly timed through ball found Salah with ease, and typified the close connection that the pair enjoyed throughout the entire evening.
Liverpool forward Firmino then found a gap in between the Arsenal defence as his side were somehow 3-2 down, before unleashing a powerful effort which Cech simply couldn’t stop, and that ended the scoring in a fantastic game where the spoils were eventually shared.
Jurgen Klopp’s side started the brighter and it was through Firmino in which the majority of their attacks went through, yet many were well aware of how this game might have panned out, as there have been 27 goals scored in the past five Premier League meetings between the two (10 for Arsenal, 17 for Liverpool) at an average of 5.4 per game. With Firmino’s help, the Reds have now scored 54 away goals in all competitions in 2017, their most in a calendar year since 1982 (66).
Firmino was constantly on hand to provide opportunities for both Sadio Mane and Salah, yet somehow the Reds left the Emirates with just a single point, a result they may have taken before the first whistle yet one they may regret having stormed into a two-goal lead.
Firmino has been in fine form all season, and has now been involved in eight goals in his last five Premier League appearances against Arsenal with five goals and three assists, while he has also scored and assisted in each of his past three Premier League games against the Gunners. The number nine will once again need to be in red-hot form as his side welcome Swansea to Anfield on Boxing Day, before hosting Leicester just a couple of days later in another must-win encounter for Liverpool.
