Arsenal 3 Liverpool 2
London, UK | ARSENAL.COM | Despite twice being pegged back, Arsenal secured all three points in a hugely entertaining clash at a rocking Emirates Stadium.
Gabriel Martinelli fired Arsenal ahead in the opening minute, and it set the tone for a pulsating Premier League encounter.
Liverpool struck back through Darwin Nunez midway through the half, but deep into first-half injury-time Bukayo Saka restored Arsenal’s lead after a rapid counter-attack.
Liverpool again got back on terms through frequent nemesis Roberto Firmino, but Saka netted from the penalty spot after Gabriel Jesus was fouled to ensure a huge three points, and send Arsenal back to the Premier League summit.
Dream start
There were just 58 seconds on the clock when the home side broke through. William Saliba won the ball midway inside Arsenal’s own half and sparked a counter attack. Arsenal overloaded Liverpool on the left, Martin Odegaard slipped the ball through to Martinelli and he expertly tucked the ball home, beating the offside trap.
The stadium was rocking and the team looked to maintain the early intensity, snapping into challenges and buzzing around the Liverpool midfield.
Granit Xhaka had a shot saved, though was flagged offside anyway, before Martinelli overhit a cross following good work from Bukayo Saka.
At the other end Aaron Ramsdale was alert to push away a Darwin Nunez drive, then sprung to his left to keep the ball out when Saliba diverted a cross towards his own goal.
So perhaps the warning signs were there before Liverpool drew level. Gabriel didn’t get enough on his attempted clearance, the ball fell to Luis Diaz who played it across for Nunez to turn home.
But Arsenal finished the half just how it started it. This time it came from a Liverpool free-kick, that Arsenal cleared to the edge of the box, then launched a rapid attack upfield.
Jesus won the ball and released the scampering Martinelli on the left, his low cross went all the way to the far post where Saka was sliding in to tuck home on the stretch
Arsenal had scored in the first and last minutes of the half. It relieved the pressure the home side had started to come under, and meant we went in at the break on a high.
Saka keeps his cool
Arsenal took the home side momentum into the second half, and the effervescent Martinelli set up captain Odegaard for a great chance in the box, but his low finish was easy for Alisson in the Liverpool goal.
Arsenal were punished for wastefulness when substitute Roberto Firmino got behind the defence and found the corner with a good low finish.
The game was being played at fearsome pace, and there was no question of either side settling for a draw.
Martinelli was the source of much of Arsenal attacking play, and his cross led to a goalmouth scramble, where Saka had a shot blocked.
As the ball came back into the area, Thiago mistimed his challenge on Jesus, and the referee awarded a penalty.
Saka stepped up and made no mistake, rifling his shot low into the net to send the Emirates into raptures again.
There were a few nervous moments in the closing ten minutes, but in the end it was a performance of great maturity and character that extended Arsenal’s 100 per cent home record this season, and more importantly, took them back to the top of Premier League table.
*****
SOURCE: Arsenal . com
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