Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard were on target as Arsenal cut the gap on leaders Liverpool to two points with a 3-1 victory in a crunch clash in the title race at the Emirates Stadium.
The contest was hyped as a ‘must-not lose’ for The Gunners and Mikel Arteta’s side were dominant against the lacklustre Merseysiders for much of the first half.
Saka gave the hosts a deserved lead on 14 minutes when he fired a rebound into an empty net following a superb save from Alisson to deny Kai Havertz.
Liverpool could easily have fallen further behind but somehow levelled just prior to the break. A calamitous mix-up at the back allowed Luis Diaz to stab Ryan Gravenberch’s clipped pass onto Gabriel, with the Brazilian defender inadvertently flicking the ball into his own net.
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Jurgen Klopp’s men were much-improved following the interval but it was Arsenal who regained the lead on 67 minutes after it was their turn to be the beneficiaries of some comical defending.
Martinelli chased a hopeful, long ball over the top and got his reward for the pursuit as a shocking miscommunication between Alisson and Virgil van Dijk allowed the Brazilian to step past the duo and roll the ball into an unguarded goal.
Liverpool never looked like levelling again and their misery was compounded when Ibrahima Konate was sent off for a second yellow card two minutes from time, with substitute Trossard somehow squirming a third goal through Alisson, via a nick off Van Dijk, in stoppage time.
The result sees Arsenal move up to second place and cut the gap on Liverpool to two points after 23 matches played.
Manchester City sit in third spot, three points further back but with two games in hand.
Liverpool will now look to bounce back at home to Burnley next Saturday. Arsenal visit West Ham on Sunday.
(Eurosports)
