Arsenal are back on top of the Premier Leagye after outlasting Liverpool in a thriller
(Picture: Getty Images)Belief was already building at Emirates Stadium that something special could happen at Arsenal this season, and this win over Liverpool will only add to that sense.
This was an enthralling, breathless encounter, a classic Premier League match, and one that sees Mikel Arteta’s side return to the top of the table.
They had their forwards to thank for that, with Bukayo Saka scoring twice and Gabriel Martinelli also finding the net.
Darwin Nunez and Roberto Firmino struck for Liverpool, both times to level the game at 1-1 and then 2-2, but they couldn’t find an elusive third.
It means Arsenal are now a staggering 14 points clear of Liverpool, who do have a game in hand down in 10th. Imagine saying that back in August.
This was not a typical Arteta performance from Arsenal as, for most games this season, they have dominated possession.
Liverpool, however, changed that as the excellent Thiago Alcantara controlled the midfield and starved Martin Odegaard and Thomas Partey of the ball.
It meant Arsenal had to find joy another way and the blueprint was shown inside the opening minute. The Gunners won the ball off Liverpool and a slick counter-attack ended with Martinelli finding the back of the net.
You expected Arsenal to kick on from there, but Liverpool fought back and levelled in the 34th minute. Luis Diaz managed to get in behind, with Gabriel failing to cut out a ball over the top, and his cross found Nunez to score.
But, as has been the case this season, Arsenal’s heads didn’t drop. Instead they hit back and ended the first half how they started it.
Once again Liverpool were undone by a slick counter, however this time it was Martinelli teeing up Saka to score.
It felt like the tempo of the game would surely drop after half-time, but somehow both teams kept going at full throttle, playing the kind of “heavy metal football” Jurgen Klopp often talks about.
Odegaard should have put Arsenal ahead five minutes into the half and then moments later Firmino struck. Diogo Jota, who had a good game, picked him out with a lovely through ball and Firmino finished well with his left foot.
That goal meant the game was perfectly balanced going into the final 30 minutes and the question was whether Arsenal could find another gear.
So often this season they have managed to do just that and they did it again as Gabriel Jesus won a penalty. A ball came in from the left and, in his hunger to clear it, Thiago brought down the Brazilian.
Saka, who in 2021 missed the decisive penalty in the final of Euro 2020, stepped up to slot the ball home. A remarkable comeback from the winger. Arsenal’s own comeback under Arteta is starting to look just as impressive.
