Arsenal continued their impressive beginning of the season with the crucial win of 3-2 against Liverpool to regain their place at the top in the Premier League table at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
Gabriel Martinelli struck in the first minute, and Bukayo Saka scored two goals to send Liverpool into their third Premier League defeat of the season, and to the 10th spot in the league table.
“In the past two or three years, Liverpool have been a team we have struggled against. To win in front of our fans is special and it shows how much we are progressing,” Saka spoke to Sky Sports.
Arsenal began at a rapid pace and scored within the first few minutes.
Expansive play along the right wing was completed with Saka making the ball go inside and passing it to Martin Odegaard, who carved the Liverpool backline with a sharp pass that was snatched on and completed by Martinelli.
– Arsenal announce their position in dramatic win over Liverpool. Liverpool
The hosts appeared calm at first however, Liverpool started to take over the game halfway through the first period and their greater effort was acknowledged 11 minutes before the half-time break when Darwin Nunez scored his second league goal of the campaign.
Nunez who is suffering slow starts after signing for a club record price in the summer from Benfica at the end of summer was able to tap Luis Diaz’s cross in the goal to make it level. Diaz was the one who provided the ball, but was removed from the field after eight minutes because of an injury.
Even with Liverpool’s progress, Arsenal enjoyed another spell of pressure towards the end of the second period and were given a boost.
Liverpool were exposed on their right flank and they allowed Martinelli to send an accurate Low cross for Saka who was able to sweep the ball through Alisson.
In a game of back-and-forth, Liverpool struck back level within a minute after the half-time break. Diogo Jota’s cross extended the Arsenal defense while Roberto Firmino dispatched a left-footed strike that sailed past Aaron Ramsdale into the far corner.
As is the case with Arsenal as well as Liverpool’s high scoring games, there was an additional twist, and it took the form of the hosts, as Arteta’s side were awarded a penalty during the 74th minute after Thiago Alcantara was slapped with a penalty for reckless play against Gabriel Jesus
Saka added to his score after slipping over Alisson in spite of his Brazilian goalkeeper diving in the right way.
“We are very disappointed,” Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk said. “It was a very tough game — we had good moments and bad moments. It was decided by a penalty that was never a penalty but it goes so quickly. We couldn’t get the points.”
Arsenal kept their cool to catch Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table.
