Arsenal progressed into the quarter finals of the EFL Cup beating Liverpool at Anfield thanks to the penalty heroics of Arsenal keeper Bernd Leno.
Leno produced two saves in the penalty shootout getting the better of Divock Origi and Harry Wilson to ensure Arsenal’s quarter final at home against holders Manchester City.
Joe Willock scored the winning penalty with a tame strike that snuck underneath Adrian that the Spanish keeper would’ve been disappointed to not keep out.
Leno had previously made a number of important saves denying Marko Grujic multiple times in the second half.
The Gunners were organised and limited the opportunities presented to Liverpool with it taking a majority of the first half for any genuine chances.
Liverpool had the better chances in the regulation 90 minutes the best of which falling late in the first half to Takumi Minamino, after a Jota header was palmed out to Leno and the Japanese international hit the bar from 6 yards out with a reactive half volley.
Arsenal created a couple of good chances with Adrian having to make a smart save as Rob Holding connected with Nicolas Pépé cross after an hour of play.
The two sides had only faced one another in the Premier League four nights previously, with Liverpool taking all three points to remain unbeaten but this fixture did not have the same intensity.
Both sides made a number of changes with the only players starting both games for Liverpool being Virgil Van Dijk and Mohammed Salah, and for Arsenal Leno, Holding and Granit Xhaka.
Welsh international Neco Williams didn’t look at all effected by the online abuse he suffered after the game against Lincoln and looked comfortable dealing with Pépé.
Rhys Williams stood out for the home side with both players making a number of vital defensive contributions to keep the Gunners from scoring.
There was no place in the Reds’ squad for young striker Rhian Brewster increasing the speculation that a move away is imminent with Sheffield United wanting the ex-Swansea striker.
Xherdan Shaqiri was also absent from Jurgen Klopp’s side despite an impressive display in the previous round against Lincoln, with new 40-million-pound man Diogo Jota preferred causing speculation that he could be in line to leave the Reds.
Arsenal’s quarter final will be played in the week beginning December 21, with Mikel Arteta welcoming his former club to the Emirates.
Liverpool’s next fixture will be away at Villa Park on Sunday October 4 where a full-strength side will be hoping to continue their unbeaten record.
Arsenal host Sheffield United also on Sunday here they will be hoping to bounce back from their league defeat at Anfield earlier in the week.
Dan Carter Sport 