Arsenal faced high-flying Liverpool on Wednesday night and despite losing by two goals to nil, the Gunners competed as equals for the large majority of the match. The two sides were largely inseparable until around the hour mark of the contest, with Roberto Firmino proving to be one of the more influential players on the pitch after being introduced as a substitute on the 55th minute.
The Brazilian scored Liverpool's second goal of the game, and he showcased exactly why Alexandre Lacazette should be deemed as a positive contributor for the Gunners despite his lack of scoring in recent months. Six players within Mikel Arteta's squad have scored more Premier League goals - excluding penalties - than Lacazette this season, including Gabriel who plays in the centre of defence. Considering the Frenchman is traditionally labelled as a striker, he doesn't find the net very often.
However, Firmino has suffered from similar criticism in recent years. The South American has interpreted the no.9 role according to his own skill set at Anfield, which has resulted in him drifting into midfield and away from the penalty box on a regular basis. Rather than scoring a wealth of goals, the 30 year-old offers value when it comes to linking with others, keeping the ball in dangerous areas and working himself into the ground on the defensive side of the game.
