With a 3-2 victory over Liverpool, Arsenal regained the league lead and made a statement about their title aspirations.
The Gunners twice lost the lead in a nail-biting match at the Emirates Stadium after goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka were offset by goals from Darwin Nunez and Roberto Firmino, respectively.
But when Saka converted a penalty kick late in the second half, Mikel Arteta’s team displayed the tenacity of champions to win a match they earned.
The victory puts even more pressure on the hosts’ fragmented opponents, whose chances of finishing in the top four already appear to be in jeopardy.
Arsenal send a message
Arsenal has felt this way so many times in recent seasons going into a game against Liverpool, that they might now be able to highlight their development under Mikel Arteta by taking a significant victim.
The outcome of these matches has often been Jurgen Klopp’s team completely smashing the Gunners on their way to another championship challenge or a strong Champions League run.
While tearing apart the Reds, Arsenal looked every bit deserving of their position at the top of the Premier League this time around.
In actuality, the hosts should have won by a larger margin because it appeared like the two sides were headed in completely different directions.
There are no clear solutions for Liverpool
The most concerning part of Liverpool’s most recent loss was how tough it was to identify potential answers.
With each substitute, Klopp’s squad appeared to go worse, and even if the Reds’ injury crisis has largely subsided, there are still no easy solutions in sight.
Instead, fans are forced to wonder whether this club has merely overachieved this season and whether major surgery is necessary before it can once again compete for championships.
The alternative is to criticize the manager’s job, which is undoubtedly not the path that supporters want to take with their cherished symbol.
Loss of Diaz is a big concern
As if things weren’t already awful enough for Liverpool, the fact that Luis Diaz suffered an injury just before halftime raises the possibility of further suffering.
For a team that has battled in the early going this season, the Colombian has been one of the standout performers, and he demonstrated why by setting up Darwin Nunez’s goal here.
Since he was forced to leave due to a knee problem, any extended absence would undoubtedly impair their hopes for a long-term rehabilitation.
Liverpool must anticipate positive results from the scan that Diaz will undoubtedly have in the upcoming days.
As it transpired, Arsenal played Liverpool.
FULLTIME: The dramatic, six-goal game is finished at the Emirates, as Arsenal wins the match and the points! Wow, these two sides are now separated by 14 points.
89th min: Despite Elliott seeking for a challenge from Tierney that isn’t there, there is a late penalty call.
Arsenal appears at ease.
76th minute: A goal! Arsenal is in front after a fantastic play from Bukayo Saka in this exciting game!
73rd minute: Arsenal gets a penalty!
A ball enters from the left side, and as it cannons off the Brazilian, it is determined that Thiago accidentally booted Gabriel Jesus. Although it’s a soft one, the judgment is final.
Mohamed Salah and Joel Matip are replaced by Fabinho and Ibrahima Konate for Liverpool in the 69th minute.
That final sub caught me off guard a little.
The game is stopped for a while in the 60th minute after Gabriel Jesus was knocked out after catching a loose elbow from Kostas Tsimikas.
Fortunately, the Brazilian is unharmed and is back on the field.
Goal at minute 53! Liverpool is once again involved in this.
Firmino runs in behind and produces a flawless left-footed shot into the far corner of the goal after a period of Arsenal dominance.
What a contest.
46th minute: Arsenal is back in action at the Emirates Stadium. Can they reclaim first place in the Premier League?
HALFTIME: That kick, the last of the half, has the potential to be significant.
45+5 minutes: SCORE! In spite of having a set piece within Arsenal’s half, Liverpool somehow concedes.
Before Martinelli turns back on his right foot and finds Saka at the far post for a tap-in, a poor ball in is swiftly recycled, and Arsenal charge up the field.
The Gunners were once again lethal on the attack, but what kind of defending did Liverpool put up?
In the 42nd minute, Diaz is replaced by Firmino as Liverpool is now compelled to make a move.
The Colombian appears to have hurt his knee in a recent challenge and hasn’t been able to recover.
Goal at minute 34! Nunez gets the equalizer to give Liverpool credit for their spell of pressure.
The Uruguayan, after taking advantage of Arsenal’s high line, pokes a pass across the box from Diaz for a straightforward goal.
In the 31st minute, Liverpool began to play with a bit more vigor. Nunez nearly forced Saliba to send the ball into his own goal, and Salah danced past a few defenders before shooting wide.
But you can always sense Arsenal’s threat when they break.
Alexander-Arnold collapses and appears to be in considerable discomfort in the 23rd minute as Martinelli utterly unintentionally stamps his ankle.
Thankfully, the young Scouser is able to move past the issue and will carry on.
15th minute: Nervous moments for Arsenal as Gabriel hands the ball in the box, but a short VAR review reveals that it was a close-range shot.
No punishment.
12th minute: The action has calmed down and is clearly going in Arsenal’s favor.
The Gunners are content to occupy a defensive position and withstand whatever little pressure Liverpool can produce before launching that risky counterattack.
FIRST MINUTE GOAL! Wow, it was so simple! When Arsenal loses possession of the ball in a key area, they quickly advance up the field before Odegaard feeds Martinelli, who scores easily into the far corner.
Arsenal had a fantastic start, and Liverpool shocked the world.
Liverpool kicks off the match!
KO in 15 minutes: And now Mikel Arteta has disclosed that Oleksandr Zinchenko is unable to participate due to a muscle issue. Will that ultimately be a setback?
KO in 20 minutes: Jurgen Klopp explained his decision to Sky Sports, saying: “For this one, we start anew. The time we had between the games, I decided adjustments didn’t make too much sense.”
50 minutes to kickoff: Well, it appears that Arsenal will be forced to make a change at left-back as Zinchenko failed to make the squad in its entirety and was replaced by Tomiyasu.
Regarding Liverpool, it was a brave move by Klopp to stay with the 4-2-3-1 against opponents who were playing well away from home. Let’s see whether it is successful.
60 minutes to the KO: Team news is here!
Ramsdale, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu, Partey, Saka, Odegaard, Xhaka, Martinelli, and Jesus are the players for Arsenal.
Turner, Tierney, Nketiah, Holding, Soares, Vieira, Sambi Lokonga, Nelson, and Marquinhos are available as substitutes.
Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Tsimikas, Henderson, Thiago, Salah, Jota, Diaz, and Nunez are all members of the Liverpool team.
Alternates: Milner, Firmino, Gomez, Fabinhp, Konate, Kelleher, Gomez, Elliott, Carvalho, and Phillips.
75 minutes to kickoff: 15 minutes until we learn the team’s news, and you feel that considering his team’s erratic performance, Jurgen Klopp has the toughest decisions to make.
Does he continue using the 4-2-3-1 formation, which performed better against Rangers, or does he switch back to the tried-and-true 4-3-3 that has been the cornerstone of Liverpool’s success under him?
95 minutes till kickoff: The Premier League standings tell you everything you need to know about Arsenal’s early-season form.
However, did you know that the Gunners have won 11 straight games at home in all competitions? Liverpool is facing challenges this afternoon.
120 minutes until KO: Nobody could have predicted that Jurgen Klopp would lavish admiration on an Arsenal squad that was 11 points ahead of his team in October 2022, only five months after the Reds made a run at a quadruple.
Lineups for Arsenal vs. Liverpool
Mikel Arteta only makes one alteration from Arsenal’s victory over Tottenham in the north London derby; Oleksandr Zinchenko is completely left off the roster.
Takehiro Tomiyasu will then start at left defender as a result.
Ramsdale (GK) — White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu — Partey, Xhaka — Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli — Jesus are the expected Arsenal starting lineup (4-2-3-1).
Turner, Tierney, Nketiah, Holding, Soares, Vieira, Sambi Lokonga, Nelson, and Marquinhos are the nine substitutes for Arsenal.
No return to the starting XI for Fabinho as Jurgen Klopp keeps the lineup and squad that convincingly defeated Rangers in the Champions League midweek.
Alisson (GK) — Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Tsimikas — Henderson, Thiago — Salah, Jota, Diaz — Nunez is the expected Liverpool starting lineup (4-2-3-1).
Kelleher, Gomez, Fabinho, Konate, Milner, Firmino, Elliott, Carvalho, and Phillips are the nine substitutes for Liverpool.
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