Arsenal’s Premier League title challenge has its moment of ignition. Mikel Arteta and his players knew this was all but a must-win showpiece and they found a way to prevail, to clamber into second place and slash Liverpool’s lead at the top to a couple of points. Manchester City, who play at Brentford on Monday night, remain within striking distance of the summit. We have the prospect of a three-way shootout for the trophy.
Arsenal deserved to win on the balance of a frantic game, mainly because of the way they controlled the first half. But the manner of how they got themselves in front – decisively so – came as the surprise. Then again, it was that kind of wild and draining afternoon, the kind to have managers ready to pack it all in at the end of the season.
We had already seen William Saliba, one of the division’s most reliable centre-halves, get himself into a terrible mix-up with his goalkeeper, David Raya, leading to the Liverpool equaliser – a Gabriel Magalhães own goal, forced by Luis Díaz. Now we had the same scenario play out at the other end to cut through the feeling that Liverpool were building up a head of steam.
It was midway through the second half and it was Virgil van Dijk who suffered the breakdown with Alisson. He had wanted his goalkeeper to deal with a high ball forward under pressure from Gabriel Martinelli. But after Martinelli had barged into Van Dijk, Alisson missed his kick. Martinelli was able to roll into the empty net and Arsenal were on their way.
Liverpool had barely missed a beat since the 1-1 draw with Arsenal at Anfield on 23 December, roaring forward on all four fronts. But they fired in no more than fits and starts here and their second defeat of the league season was confirmed when the Arsenal substitute Leandro Trossard stormed through in stoppage-time to embarrass Alisson.
Trossard’s touch to wriggle clear of another substitute, Harvey Elliott, up the left was lovely and when he sliced in on goal Van Dijk seemed reluctant to engage him. Trossard’s low shot took a slight deflection off Van Dijk before going through Alisson’s legs. The No 1’s nightmare was complete.
Liverpool had been reduced to 10 men in the 88th minute, Ibrahima Konaté collecting a second yellow card for a check on Kai Havertz. His first booking was for wrestling down Havertz, who played as Arsenal’s No 9 in the absence of the injured Gabriel Jesus. Jürgen Klopp had thrown everything he had left at Arsenal, moving Díaz to right-back in the closing stages and playing Darwin Núñez, who appeared only as a substitute, and Diogo Jota as twin strikers. Now his team were broken.
Arsenal brought the intensity at the outset and the home support responded; the Emirates Stadium was jumping. Arteta had clearly demanded a fast start and there was a moment on seven minutes when he retrieved the ball for an Arsenal throw-in with a near-maniacal sense of purpose.
There was the sight of numerous Arsenal players whipping up the crowd, including after the breakthrough goal, which had been advertised. From a Raya throw, Martinelli switched on the afterburners to glide away from Konaté before crossing for Bukayo Saka, who had timed his run. Saka’s headed connection was not true.
Jorginho excelled in midfield and Martin Ødegaard was good, too, in the No 10 role. It was the latter who ignited the move for the opening goal, playing a wonderful first-time pass to release Havertz. One-on-one with Alisson, Havertz had to score and yet Alisson blocked. Sadly for the goalkeeper, the rebound fell to Saka, who banged home his 11th of the season.
Arsenal dominated the first half. They won the physical duels – there were times when it felt as though Declan Rice was everywhere – and there were plenty of examples of them showing their personality on the ball, not least when Ben White went through his skills. Ødegaard had a shot blocked by Van Dijk after Liverpool had been robbed when trying to play out. Gabriel and Martinelli also had half-chances.
This Liverpool team are rarely rattled. They had done next to nothing as an attacking force in the first half but they always give the impression they know their moment will come.
It did on the stroke of half-time. The concession was a disaster from an Arsenal point of view, Saliba trying to shepherd a Ryan Gravenberch ball over the top back to Raya. Díaz nipped in to force it across where it hit Gabriel’s hand and went in. Saliba had to take greater control of the situation.
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Liverpool were energised at the start of the second half, with Curtis Jones shaping a curler just past the far post. For Arsenal, Ødegaard watched a shot deflect wide. Díaz also banged one too close to Raya. It would go down as his team’s only effort on target.
Arsenal went deep into the depths of their resolve. They badly needed something and, after Havertz had screamed in vain for a penalty after a tangle with Alexis Mac Allister, they got it with Martinelli’s goal.
The closing stages were chaotic. Mac Allister shot inches wide after a corner while the Arsenal substitute Jakub Kiwior headed at Alisson when he should have scored. Arsenal would stand tall.
