VIDEO: Minamino misses last minute sitter as 10-man Arsenal hold Liverpool
Takumi Minamino missed a last minute seater as 10-man Arsenal held Liverpool in the first leg of Carabao Cup game semis played at Anfield on Thursday.
Both teams have players missing through COVID and participation at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
Liverpool were without Saido Mane, Mohamed Salah and Naby Keita who are on assignment with their national teams in Cameroon.
Arsenal also have former captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Thomas Partey, Mohamed Elney and Nicolas Pepe missing due to AFCON.
Martin Odegaard, Emile Smith Rowe and Takehiru Tomiyasu were all unavailabe for various reasons yet Arsenal got something from the first leg clash.
11 minutes into the game Arsenal lost Cedric Soares to injury and Calum Chamber was subbed on for him.
Arsenal’s job was made difficult when former captain Granit Xhaka was sent off in the 24th minutes of the game. Coach Mikel Arteta responded to the dismissal by bringing Rob Holding for Edward Nketiah.
It was definetly not the same Liverpool without Saido Mane and Mo Salah as they struggle in front of goal despite the numerical advantage.
But Arsenal occasional threatened Liverpool through their Nigerian-born star boy Bukayo Saka as Ben White and his colleagues defended with everything.
With the game winding down, Takumi Minamino was presented a free gift but the former Red Bull Salzburg forward fluffed from a close range.
https://vimeo.com/665803593
Minamino miss
Arsenal will go into the second leg at the Emirate Stadium next week full of confidence.
The aggregate winners in the fixture will play Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final which will be held at Wembley Stadium and will take place on Sunday, February 27.
