Arsenal injected some excitement into the Premier League title race by defeating lackluster leaders Liverpool 3-1, narrowing the gap to just two points, and securing second place on Sunday.
The victory was well-deserved for Arsenal, propelling them above Manchester City. However, they received an unexpected assist from Virgil van Dijk and Alisson, whose mistake allowed Gabriel Martinelli to regain the lead in the 67th minute.
Leandro Trossard sealed the deal for Arsenal in stoppage time, easing any late tension among the fans at the Emirates Stadium with a shot past Alisson.
The match started with Bukayo Saka putting Arsenal in the lead early on with a composed finish in the 14th minute. However, Gabriel’s own goal just before halftime nullified their efforts.
Liverpool’s frustrations were evident as Ibrahima Konate was sent off in the closing minutes for a second booking after a foul on Kai Havertz.
Arsenal’s resurgence in the title race comes after a period of inconsistency earlier in the season. Their third consecutive win lifted them to second place with 49 points, trailing Liverpool by just two points, both clubs having played 23 games. Defending champions Manchester City, set to play on Monday, are close behind with 46 points from 21 games.
“It was disappointing to concede so late after a strong first half, but we knew the importance of the second half,” commented Arsenal’s Declan Rice. “We’ve managed to regain our form and get back on track.”
This victory marked the fourth Premier League game in a row where Arsenal took an early lead against Liverpool. The visitors struggled to respond cohesively, and Arsenal capitalized on their disjointed performance.
Despite Liverpool’s attempts to rally in the second half, a costly mistake between Van Dijk and Alisson allowed Arsenal to extend their lead, ultimately securing the win.
Arsenal’s triumph will surely raise questions at Anfield, with Klopp admitting, “Congratulations to Arsenal. We were not good enough today. It just shows the boys are human beings.”
