What Liverpool should do in the transfer market after Conor Bradley's injury, the struggling star showing huge improvement - and why Arne Slot deserves credit despite 'boring' football

From half-time until the 91st minute, Arsenal had zero shots, no corners and mustered up an expected goals tally of 0.0.

For this depleted Liverpool side to rock up at the league leaders and limit them to that is to Arne Slot ’s huge credit.

Had any of the goal-scoring trio of Hugo Ekitike, Mohamed Salah or Alexander Isak been fit and in the team, the Reds most probably would have gone on to take three points and record their biggest win of the season.

As it was, they had to settle for a third draw of 2026 – but this time, unlike disappointing points against Leeds and Fulham , failing to win was certainly no disgrace.

In the first half, it was a case of sitting in and being patient, the sort of performance you might expect to see in the upcoming weekend’s FA Cup third round, a minnow fighting for their lives at the home of a giant.

That may sound like a criticism of Liverpool but it is actually a compliment. Had Slot turned up in north London and not played slightly more pragmatic than normal (his team were deeper, although not always by choice), we would have slated him for being naive.

Arne Slot deserves huge credit for the way he set up his Liverpool team in the draw at Arsenal

Yet he swallowed some pride and went slightly more defensive to join only Pep Guardiola as the only manager to leave the Emirates Stadium with a point this season. In that game, too, City put in a brave even if attritional performance.

It was not always pretty as a defensive-minded Liverpool had to survive a taxing first half and it was probably a boring watch for some.

Indeed, those watching at home may have been tempted to turn over to The Traitors for some more drama as Slot was unfaithful to his all-out attack, total football typical Dutch style.

Conor Bradley hit the bar with an audacious chipped effort that nearly foxed David Raya – but that was that for away chances.

But after the break, something changed.

Liverpool started to get on the ball, Jeremie Frimpong strived to stretch the game with darts in behind the defence and the away team started to pass with some style.

OK, it was far from the team we saw conquer England last season, though this was much better. They were missing a bit of bite and the final, decisive ball – but a draw at the Emirates Stadium is good in any season, let alone when they are so far ahead at the summit.

Slot is man of the match

Apart from this reporter’s heated gilet, Slot was the best performer of the night.

For coming here and getting a point with a depleted squad missing so many key players, the Dutchman deserves mass credit.

The Reds were excellent defensively as they stifled the Gunners and limited their chances

It may not be fashionable to say so in recent weeks as fans have (often correctly) bemoaned his playing style which he defended in a Wednesday press conference when it was put to him that the football was ‘dull and boring’.

But the head coach produced a tactically smart display that saw them limit the spaces Arsenal had by slightly altering his pressing triggers, especially after the break.

They have now proved they can put in steely defensive displays. With home games against Barnsley and Burnley to follow in the next week, now they must show that they can also produce attacking performances as that was clearly missing here.

Federico Chiesa and Rio Ngumoha may be given a chance to impress against the League One Tykes on Monday – and maybe they can show Slot what he was missing here.

Milos matures (after the break)

Milos Kerkez has had a tough first season at Liverpool, there is no hiding that.

Jamie Carragher described him as ‘like having Darwin Nunez at left back’ and whatever that means, it was probably unfair given the youngster is still settling into a new team.

But the Hungarian improved here and put in another solid display against Arsenal after keeping Noni Madueke quiet in the first meeting between these sides this season.

Milos Kerkez has struggled this season but put in an improved performance at the Emirates

Conor Bradley's injury means Liverpool should look to sign a defender in the transfer window

OK, Kerkez had a tough time up against Bukayo Saka in the early exchanges but after about half an hour, he settled and put in some crunching tackles.

It was his attacking output that caught the eye of Liverpool scouts above all, though – and his crosses have been slightly wayward at Liverpool. That is something to improve in the second half of the season…

Will Bradley injury prompt a January buy?

Judging off what was being said at full-time and the fact Conor Bradley left the stadium on crutches and in a knee brace, it is fair to expect a lengthy lay-off (though let us hope it is not as serious as it looked).

If that is the case, Liverpool are even lighter in defence, given Giovanni Leoni is out for the season with a cruciate ligament injury suffered on his debut after a summer move from Parma.

Given Frimpong is currently playing as a right winger (his pace was a real weapon here), Liverpool currently have one back-up senior defender in Andy Robertson, from the back four that ended this game.

Will that prompt a rethink in their plan to sit tight and not sign a defender in January? Maybe it should…