SOCCER - FA PREMIERSHIP/ Arsenal ... 1 Liverpool ... 1: A draw at Highbury should be a happy result for the visitors, but there were so many qualifications slapped over it that it was almost impossible to make out any real joy for Liverpool. They failed to edge closer to Arsenal, were unable to stop themselves from racking up a ninth consecutive Premiership match without a win and will find it impossible to contain their angst over the equaliser.
The denunciations of the penalty kick - converted by Thierry Henry - which Francis Jeffers obtained were conveyed with clarity and disgust by Gerard Houllier. The Liverpool manager's exasperation is appropriate when a brushing contact by John Arne Riise as he pursued the substitute is interpreted by Jeff Winter, the referee, as a tug that yanked the forward off his feet.
It will require a far greater force than that for Liverpool to drag their thoughts back to the agreeable facets of this afternoon, even though it did suggest that a turning point is in sight. The match itself may have been a compressed journey in which a team found its way back to self-belief.
Before the interval Liverpool were uncouth and anxious, provoking the mocking cries of "hoof" from the crowd for their hearty, thoughtless boots downfield. Perhaps the visitors reached a moment when their mediocrity disgusted them as much as it has their fans. Subsequently they were unflinching in their wish to take the game to Arsenal.
The impression they made grew increasingly strong, even though Michael Owen had gone off after 33 minutes because of a twinge in his hamstring. Houllier's side were not downcast and El Hadji Diouf, the substitute, had a header cleared from the line by Ashley Cole in the 61st minute after a corner kick.
The left-back had twice protected Arsenal in that fashion during the 1-1 draw with Spurs. "Cole is one of our better goalkeepers," Arsene Wenger jested. "If he wasn't so small I would give him a chance there."
The whimsy was that of a manager at relative ease with the result. Liverpool remain nine points adrift and, like a person initiating a countdown, Wenger referred to the 17 games left on his Premiership schedule.
Time is running out for Houllier's men, yet the 90 minutes that elapsed here were not wasted. Although Liverpool lack variety, they demonstrated to themselves that they should still be able to work up a head of steam so long as they have numerous players of worth. Within seconds of Cole's block, David Seaman was slow to gather as Martin Keown tried to shepherd possession back and Milan Baros darted in to shoot against the outside of a post.
When Arsenal conceded possession in midfield, after 70 minutes, Steven Gerrard sent through a beguiling, curving pass and Baros took it on the run. Sol Campbell, chasing to catch up, brought him down with a sliding tackle.
The penalty, unusually, was awarded on the advice of the referee's assistant, but the decision was correct. After much delay, including a wrangle over who would take it, Danny Murphy slammed the spot-kick high past Seaman's left hand. Arsenal must have had feelings of foreboding then and not only because they lagged.
Liverpool had contained them well, showing that Arsenal's passing style has its disadvantages if there is no room left in the repertoire for the direct means that are sometimes essential. These visitors know how to read moves, and by keeping men back they often frustrated Wenger's team.
The excellence of Chris Kirkland was a further obstacle. He was fast from his line to block Sylvain Wiltord's attempt after Henry had twisted round to slip his compatriot through in the 32nd minute.
A deflection off Stephane Henchoz meant that Kirkland could not gather Henry's drive after 53 minutes, but the tip over the bar with which he reacted to Robert Pires's powerful effort from the rebound was a stirring sight. In that instant it did seem that Liverpool could hold Arsenal indefinitely.
The penalty broke them and the turn by Jeffers, which left Sami Hyypia and Riise floundering, was handsome even if the events that followed had a dubious aspect. In their wish to shape the game and entertain, though, Arsenal deserved to enjoy some reward.
Their real capacities were obvious in stoppage-time, when Dennis Bergkamp's flick guided Cole to the byline and, at the very least, Gilberto Silva should have hit the target instead of firing wide. That was a small but significant token of the displays Arsenal, already five points clear, may yet give.
It is expected that they will hit their best form at the start of the year. If turning the page of the calendar has that effect on them once more, the remaining days of the season will be a long, morose stretch for their rivals.
ARSENAL: Seaman, Lauren, Campbell, Keown, Cole, Wiltord (Jeffers 76), Silva, Vieira, Pires (van Bronckhorst 84), Henry, Kanu (Bergkamp 65). Subs Not Used: Taylor, Luzhny. Booked: Campbell. Goals: Henry 79 pen.
LIVERPOOL: Kirkland, Carragher, Henchoz, Hyypia, Riise, Murphy, Gerrard, Diao, Cheyrou (Traore 80), Baros (Biscan 86), Owen (Diouf 33). Subs Not Used: Arphexad, Mellor. Booked: Diao, Murphy, Riise. Goals: Murphy 70 pen.
Referee: J Winter (Cleveland).
