Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk avoided an early yellow card but an early Bukayo Saka goal equalised and the Gunners were ultimately left with a completely improvised back four after losing possession.
After scoring a decent penalty against Ibrahima Konate, it’s no wonder Mikel Arteta was left feeling bitterly disappointed on a day when his team was so passionate that the Emirates was in awe of the sound. The result leaves Arsenal five points behind leaders Manchester City and one behind Arne Slott’s side. Saka and Mikel Merino, who performed brilliantly after injuries, put Arsenal in the lead twice but they were pushed back both times by a determined Liverpool side who relied on luck in hostile environments.
By the time Salah struck just before half-time, there were ten minutes left to play, with Thomas Partey, Ben White, Jakub Kivior and Miles Lewis-Skelly already in the Arsenal defence. Gabriel and Jurrien Timber both limped off the pitch with injuries as Arteta’s sick leave continued.
With William Saliba banned and Martin Odegaard still out injured, there was relief that Saka was passed fit after a hamstring injury. And there were clearly no after-effects as Saka opened the scoring with an outstanding ninth minute strike. From Ben White’s pass, Saka weaved past Andy Robertson, first evaded Liverpool’s left-back and then expertly broke through.
With Robertson struggling to the ground, Saka fired a powerful shot under the crossbar and past Caoimhém Kelleher at the near post to the delight of the Emirates team. Saka became the youngest Gunner to score 50 Premier League goals.
And that was after Liverpool were reduced to ten men, captain Virgil van Dijk first pushing and then twice dispossessing Kai Havertz. In a way, as they say, Var Michael Salisbury considered the crime “boring, not reckless” if the arsenal was furious, their character did not improve when the Dutchman was equal to the 18th minute.
Mikel Merino’s error has just given Mo Salah a clear idea of the lens, Flaming Egyptian. But Luis Diaz headed in at the near post from a Trent Alexander-Arnold corner and Van Dijk slotted in between Gabriel and Thomas Partey to head home.
Merino missed a golden chance from close range but Salah, full of sauce and magic, cut inside again and fired in the nick of time. It was one of those thrilling, jaw-dropping matches where the Super Sunday hype and talk of the “best league in the world” seemed fully justified.
Arsenal felt they should have been awarded a penalty after Ibrahima Konate made a clumsy tackle on Gabriel Martinelli, but Salisbury ruled they had the ball. With an insurmountable saka, Alexis Mack Allter was reserved for carrying the arsenal skipper.
The slot machines were attached to a long section before the arsenal grabbed management at the end of the first half. Declan Rice sentenced a penalty to the right, and Merino passed through Keln.The delay of the VAR for verifying the game off game was long and nervous. Salisbury probably believed Merino was on the back foot and avoided any trouble, ironically allowing Van Dijk to strike the decisive blow.
After the break, Dias beat Partey, slipped past Whyte and connected with Raya at the near post, the ball bouncing off the crossbar.Gabriel, who had just gone down for treatment after a foul by Darwin Nunez, was forced to limp off soon after Arteta now without both of his first-choice centre-backs as Jakub Kiwior was sent on.
Slot made a triple change sending on Cody Gakpo, Dominik Szoboszlai and Kostas Tsimikas – and the visitors were beginning to exert some pressure on Arsenal’s makeshift back four. That defensive line was further depleted when Jurrien Timber, who had tested late for the starting line-up, came on limping and was replaced by young Miles Lewis-Skelly.
Arsenal were showing an insatiable appetite for hard-hitting bribery and seemed to be back in control when they were caught with their trousers down. Alexander-Arnold provided the assist, allowing Nunez and Salah to make runs down the left wing.Nunez, with his speed, movement and intelligence, found Salah’s backcross, and Salah scored with his right foot, celebrating with jubilant Scousers in the clock’s end corner.
