Johnny Giles defends Arsenal after Liverpool collapse

Johnny Giles insists it wasn’t “same old Arsenal” at Anfield despite the Gunners conceding a late equaliser in a 3-3 draw with Liverpool on Wednesday night.

The north London side led for most of the second half after Olivier Giroud’s second of the night in the 55th minute gave the visitors a slender lead at Anfield.

However, Liverpool substitute Joe Allen scored an 90th-minute equaliser within eight minutes of his introduction to salvage a point for Jurgen Klopp’s side in front of their home supporters.

But Giles rubbished the suggestion that it was another typical Arsenal result, insisting that the north London side played well for most of Wednesday night’s clash.

“It wasn’t quite the same old Arsenal,” Giles told Newstalk’s Off The Ball show.

“For 75 minutes, they were really, really good and competitive and resilient. They got into the lead.

“It was the last 15 minutes really that they collapsed a bit – that was down to them dropping back and Liverpool being Liverpool, having a go.

“They needed somebody, particularly in the middle of the field, to get a hold of the ball, because the best way you can defend is having the ball.”

Arsenal are top of the Premier League table but level on points with second-placed Leicester City after the Foxes were 1-0 winners against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane on Wednesday night.

MORE: The latest Arsenal news and views

MORE: The latest Arsenal player tweets

The FA Cup holders make the trip to Stoke City on Sunday afternoon, where Arsenal haven’t won since February 2010.