Arsenal 3 – 1 Liverpool: Gunners Blow Title Race Wide Open with Win at the Emirates

Defensive blunders led to goals at both ends on Sunday’s affair at the Emirates, but Liverpool’s in particular will stick in the minds of supporters when looking back on this game. The result will surely be a shot in the arm for Arsenal’s title race, as the three points won bring them to just two points behind Liverpool, still the league leaders. 

Key attacking players were missing on both sides as Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah is still recovering from a hamstring injury and Arsenal’s Jesus reoccurring knee problems kept him out of the team. 

The hosts started the game extremely well, sort of beating Liverpool at their own game in for much of the first half, with their high press catching Liverpool out in possession multiple times; as well as hitting them quickly on the break after winning the ball – after 10 minutes David Ray grabbed a Joe Gomez cross out of the air before sending Martinelli down the left hand side, who burst past Konaté before sending an very good left footed cross toward Saka, who should’ve done better with his headed effort.

Arsenal continued their early control of the game when a great passing move from the back starting with Saliba was worked down the left channel which ended with Martin Ødegaard putting Kai Havertz through on goal after Van Dijk was caught out of position. Havertz’s strike was saved by Alisson, but the rebound was cleaned up and scored by Bukayo Saka. 

The Gunners stayed on top for the remainder of the first half until what should’ve been a routine clearance from Saliba or pick up from Raya caused confusion in the Arsenal penalty area. Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch clipped a ball in towards Luis Dias, who was being well marked and marshalled by Saliba. Saliba wanted his keeper to come and claim the ball as held Diaz from the ball for a few seconds but the two were not on the same page, Raya hesitated leaving time for Diaz to poke the ball towards goal and after pin-balling between a few players, it bounced in after hitting Gabriel Magalhães for an own goal. 

After starting the second half in urgent and inspiring fashion, Liverpool looked as though they would really kick on after equalizing. Arsenal, however, were able to shoulder the pressure and began to control the tempo and possession again, enough to make Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp to make a triple substitution just before the hour mark. Alexander-Arnold was brought off and replaced by Joe Gomez at right back to fortify the defence as Martinelli had been running them ragged the whole afternoon. He and Havertz, who’s performance was easily overlooked, were the main threats to the Liverpool back line with their movement, drawing defenders away and leaving spaces for other teammates to occupy. Declan Rice’s and Jorginho’s performance as the midfield pivot should also be noticed, working well together to disrupt Liverpool play and Jorginho playing creative incisive passes to break the defensive and midfield lines. 

The defensive howlers didn’t end with the first half though, at around the 68th minute, Arsenal’s two Gabriels combined. A long, prospective pass was played by Gabriel Magalhães into the Liverpool final third which Gabriel Martinelli gave chase to. Virgil Van Dijk ran in between Martinelli and the ball and similarly to Saliba in the first half, wanted his keeper to come out and claim, but confusion got the best of the two, the ball wasn’t cleared and sat up well for Martinelli to score into an open goal, putting Arsenal 2-1 up.

After the game Van Dijk commented on the situation that lead to Arsenal’s second, taking responsibility for the error. 

“I take full responsibility for that, it was a big turning point in the game”

“I should just clear it and I made the split second wrong decision. These things happen in football, but that doesn’t change the fact that it hurts”

Things didn’t get any better for Liverpool as Arsenal continued to threaten their goal but  they struggled to create chances against the well shaped organized Arsenal defence.The Gunners boasted more clearances, interceptions and tackles won with their expected goals against was being only 0.37 to Liverpool’s 3.50. An overall formidable performance against the league’s toughest competition

The frustration was compiled late on just before 90 minutes after Ibrahim Konaté was sent off after being given a quite harsh second yellow for a foul on Kai Havertz. Arsenal then went on to score a third through substitute Leandro Trossard. As Liverpool threw more players forward looking for an equalizer, they were caught out when Kiwior played it into Trossard on the left hand side, who beat Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott with inventive skill and buried towards goal until shooting and scoring with a deflected shot that went between Alisson’s legs. Questions hovering Van Dijk’s decision making once again as he seemed to look to defend the space that Trossard may have crossed the ball into rather than pressuring the ball, resulting in him ultimately deflecting the shot that made the goal, despite the angle the shot was taken from favouring Alisson. 

As mentioned, this win brings Arsenal within two points of the Liverpool at the top. A crucial result, being that a draw would’ve had the gap remain five points and a loss would’ve seen them sit eight points behind, all but killing their title hopes. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta had nothing but glowing words for his team after the win, praising the team’s “elite mentality”. Even rival manager Jurgen Klopp gave it up to the hosts, telling Sky Sports: “In general, we can admit that Arsenal deserve the three points”. 

The Premier League resumes this weekend with Liverpool looking to bounce back as they host relegation battling Burnley and Arsenal looking to continue this current win streak to four games as they travel to East London to play West Ham, who have already gotten the better of them twice this season.