We were finding it very difficult to create any chances as Liverpool were quicker and sharper to the ball and getting into their half in numbers was proving very difficult, especially in the center of the pitch. The man who scores when he likes found his way to goal after a wonderfully inch perfect cross from Bacary Sagna found the head of van Persie to glance in past Reina

The rain poured down on a bright and fresh Saturday lunchtime at Anfield. Both teams desperate for points in the race for the top four.

As we hoped, the Arsenal line up was unchanged from last week. For once it seems, the opposition were the team that had suffered from the international midweek games. Steven Gerrard and Glen Johnson had to make do with a place on the treatment bench rather than the pitch.

The opening exchanges were pretty tight, both teams cancelling each other out, the closest opportunity came when Koscielny missed a long punt forward and Suarez was on the chase but an alert Szczesny cleared with his head on the second attempt. The home side started to turn the screw.

Woijech Szczesny made an incredible double save to deny Kuyt from the penalty spot after Luis Suarez went down a little too easy for my liking when being confronted by Szczesny. His second penalty conceded in two games and both were very dubious.

There was nothing Szczesny could do with Koscielny’s sliced clearance into the near post on his left foot. Koscielny looked shaky for the first time in a long while during the first half. Liverpool hit the wood work twice in the first half one from Suarez and another from Kuyt.

We were finding it very difficult to create any chances as Liverpool were quicker and sharper to the ball and getting into their half in numbers was proving very difficult, especially in the center of the pitch. The man who scores when he likes found his way to goal after a wonderfully inch perfect cross from Bacary Sagna found the head of van Persie to glance in past Reina.

It was certainly against the run of play as Liverpool compressed Arsenal deep inside our half and we struggled to get past the snapping challenges of our opponents.

I was hoping that we would push up the pitch a little more and play in their half as Liverpool kept popping passes around our penalty box. The Arsenal back four were all very quick and could have played a higher defensive line, pushing everyone forward would have given van Persie some more options.

Bacary Sagna and Kieran Gibbs made two fantastic recovery challenges to prevent the home side from increasing their score but make no mistake about it, the home side had the better of the first half.

Early in the second half Mikel Arteta had to be replaced by Abou Diaby after having suffered from a collision with Jordan Henderson. It appears to be concussion and he has travelled to hospital as a precaution. Fingers crossed he recovers quickly and safely.

Diaby’s first contribution was to jink inside his man and hit a left footed shot easily saved by Reina. It was nice to have a midfielder who can make that space in the final third. Diaby’s introduction coincided with our best spell of the game. But creating chances was still proving to be a problem.

Kelly miscued from inside the six yard box when he could and should have put Liverpool 2-1 up. Walcott soon after could have increased Arsenal’s lead but for the feet of Pepe Reina.

Abou Diaby’s misery continues as he was taken off with yet another setback. Chamberlain had come on to replace him and play in the middle of the pitch.

Liverpool continued to swarm all over our defence but they struggled to get past the rock that was Thomas Vermaelen at the heart of our defence.

In the 90th minute, Alex Song had pushed forward and Robin made that spinning run that he makes so well, Song has he has done time and time again spun a delicious curving pass into his path and on the volley on that oh so sweet left foot he side footed on the volley past Reina at the near post.

Eight minutes stoppage time was not enough for Liverpool to find an equaliser.

Three gritty, lovely and juicy points head back to north London.

The spine of the team was fantastic. Szczesny, Vermaelen, Alex Song in the second half and of course Robin van Persie came up with the goods when it mattered.

Smash and grab at it’s best.

Man of the match: Thomas Vermaelen