Arsenal must be absolutely delighted Roberto Firmino is walking away from Liverpool at the end of the season.
The Brazilian has been the scourge of the Gunners throughout his eight seasons at Anfield, having netted 10 goals in 14 appearances against the Londoners before this, his final outing in the fixture.
And, ever the showman, there was no way the forward wasn’t going to sprinkle his own unique brand of magic on an afternoon that took Reds supporters on an emotional rollercoaster perhaps unmatched this season.
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Firmino, increasingly reduced to a bit-part role that has perhaps persuaded him to seek pastures new when his contract expires in the summer, was thrown on with 13 minutes remaining as Liverpool sought to cap a rousing comeback against the long-time Premier League leaders.
Darwin Nunez, another forward introduced from the bench earlier, had already spurned a glorious opportunity to level when, after an attack initiated by Firmino in central midfield, he was sent clear by Mohamed Salah but shot at Aaron Ramsdale.
Firmino, though, showed his younger team-mate how it is done, stretching at the far post to head home on 87 minutes after the groundwork had been done by a superb Trent Alexander-Arnold run and cross from the right. No player has scored more for the Reds against Arsenal.
For Liverpool, it was deserved reward for a second-half performance that was as rousing as the first half-hour was truly appalling in gifting Arsenal a two-goal advantage. Even then, Mohamed Salah's second successive missed penalty seemed to offer the Gunners an escape they didn't deserve after horribly losing their grip on the match.
It may ultimately count for little for Jurgen Klopp’s side in terms of their Champions League qualification aspirations, the top-four now realistically out of reach. Europa League football must now be the target.
And while Liverpool would have wanted to have a different kind of say in the title race come April – and are now five games without a win, their worst such run in more than six years – this dealt a major setback to Arsenal’s championship aspirations.
If Firmino’s sense of occasion remains undimmed, so too does his unique contribution to this Liverpool team. He may no longer have the consistency or sharpness to produce on a regular basis, but this cameo was the Brazilian in a nutshell.
Firmino is going to be missed. Well, unless you're Arsenal, of course. Si, senor.
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