Arsenal 3-1 Liverpool: Hosts slim the hole on leaders to 2 factors

How many occasions have they performed collectively, Alisson and Virgil van Dijk? How many occasions have they rescued Liverpool? How many opposing assaults have they subdued? How many possibilities have they thwarted of their reign as top-of-the-line defensive partnerships within the Premier League?

The reply on all counts is just too many to say. And but at The Emirates, with their match with Arsenal poised at 1-1 and the title race heating up and Manchester City watching and hoping for Liverpool to slide, the sport turned on a defensive mix-up between the goalkeeper and the skipper.

Arsenal had already let Liverpool again into the sport on the finish of the primary half with a calamity caper of their very own however when Liverpool emulated it halfway by means of the second half, the 2 giants of the membership colliding with one another and presenting Gabriel Martinelli with an open aim, the league leaders couldn’t discover a approach again into the sport.

Arsenal consolidated their lead with a late aim from Leandro Trossard, that deflected off Van Dijk and squeezed by means of Alisson’s legs, to seal a 3-1 win for Mikel Arteta’s workforce and condemn Liverpool to their first defeat within the league since they misplaced at Spurs on Saturday September thirtieth.

Liverpool, who have been diminished to 10 males when Ibrahima Konate was despatched off for a second yellow card late on, have been the victims of a surprising error by the VAR officers that day however on this defeat towards Arsenal, they have been the authors of their very own downfall.

They have been second greatest for lengthy durations of the sport towards an Arsenal aspect which refused to let its depth or its perception drop. Arsenal have been the higher workforce. The outcome will breathe new confidence into them because the title race heads in the direction of its run-in.

And so, the title race has been blown huge open. It is as open a contest because it has been for a very long time. Arsenal knew they needed to win this recreation to rejoin the battle they usually by no means appeared like dropping.

Liverpool’s lead on the high of the desk is down to 2 factors and City can shut the hole as effectively in the event that they beat Brentford on Monday night. Liverpool have been so good for thus lengthy that they have been due a poor efficiency. This was it.

Liverpool had performed like a dream of their 4-1 victory over Chelsea final week and despite the fact that most sides play like a dream towards Chelsea as of late, the guests went into the match with momentum and kind on their aspect.

They have been with out Conor Bradley, their thrilling younger proper again, who was mourning the demise of his father. That meant a return to the beginning eleven after damage for Trent Alexander-Arnold. Darwin Nunez, who hit the woodwork 4 occasions towards Mauricio Pochettino’s aspect, was on the bench.

The recreation started quick and furiously. No one anticipated anything. Arsenal closed Liverpool down with specific ferocity. Liverpool’s urgent was not far behind. The first time both aspect bought an opportunity to breathe, Arsenal ought to have scored.

David Raya launched Martinelli with a throw and Martinelli raced on to it, hotly pursued by Konate. The pursuit went on and on and nonetheless Konate couldn’t catch Martinelli.

When he had nearly bought to the byline, Martinelli crossed into the guts of the field the place Bukayo Saka had bought forward of his marker. Saka flung himself on the ball however one way or the other he mistimed his header and glanced it huge when it appeared simpler to attain.

A minute later, Saka atoned. Martin Odegaard freed Kai Havertz with a superb first-time move that despatched the Germany ahead in on aim. Alisson got here out to satisfy him and Havertz fired weakly and straight at him. But when the ball got here again off Alisson’s chest, it rebounded straight to Saka. Saka took a contact after which lashed the ball into the web.

Liverpool didn’t provide a lot going ahead within the first half however when Alexander-Arnold whipped in an outstanding ball from the proper touchline, Gabriel conjured a superb interception to forestall the ball reaching Cody Gakpo as he waited to pounce.

Arsenal have been coasting in the direction of the interval when catastrophe struck deep in added time. Ryan Gravenberch lofted a innocent ball into the within proper channel for Luis Diaz to chase however as an alternative of clearing it, William Saliba tried to shepherd it again to Raya.

Raya didn’t come to say it and Diaz compelled his approach round Saliba and hooked the ball in the direction of the penalty spot. It hit Gabriel on the proper arm and bounced slowly and apologetically over the road and into the web. After a lot exhausting work, it was an terrible method to concede an equaliser.

When the second half started, it felt as if that aim had modified all the pieces. Liverpool have been rampant now. Diaz attacked at will down the left, Alexis Mac Allister fizzed a shot simply huge from 25 yards and Curtis Jones curled a shot simply the mistaken aspect of Raya’s left-hand publish. It was a special Liverpool, a special recreation.

Gradually, Arsenal recovered their composure and their confidence. Odegaard stepped inside his marker and fired in a shot that deflected off Konate and spun huge and Gabriel ought to have accomplished higher than head huge when he escaped the attentions of Konate and ran on to a free kick from Odegaard.

Arsenal appealed for a penalty when Mac Allister checked the run of Havertz and each males tumbled to the turf however VAR refused to overturn referee Anthony Taylor’s determination to wave play on.

Then, halfway by means of the half, Liverpool proved they may take Arsenal’s defensive howler from earlier and lift it. There appeared to be little hazard when Virgil van Dijk ran again with Martinelli as they chased an extended punt from Gabriel.

Van Dijk waited for Alisson to return to clear it however Alisson delayed. When he lastly rushed out of his space and tried to hack the ball away, he succeeded solely in booting Van Dijk within the thigh and lacking the ball altogether.

Van Dijk and Alisson turned in horror to see Martinelli left in superb isolation with the ball at his ft and the aim unguarded. Martinelli took his time after which rolled the ball calmly into the empty internet.

Arsenal wasted a golden alternative to place the sport out of attain seven minutes from time when Odegaard chipped into the realm and located substitute Jakub Kiwior unmarked eight yards out. Kiwior twisted his physique to attempt to get as a lot energy into his header as doable however he might solely direct it straight at Alisson.

Konate was despatched off three minutes from the top for a second bookable offence when he body-checked Havertz as Havertz led an Arsenal counter-attack and because the recreation entered added time, Arsenal scored the third aim they so desperately craved.

Trossard made it and Trossard scored it. He ran again in the direction of the half-way line to retrieve a free ball after which tricked his well past Harvey Elliott and set off for aim. Van Dijk got here throughout to shut him down however Trossard’s shot deflected off the Liverpool skipper’s foot and squirmed by means of the legs of Alisson.

On the touchline, Arteta went wild, working up and down by the Arsenal bench, high-fiving Arsenal supporters and giving because of the heavens. His workforce had closed the hole. The title race is nearer than ever.