Arsenal secured a crucial win over Liverpool, withstanding strong pressure from their opponents and moving to the top of the Premier League. The reigning champions were forced to suffer after German Kai Havertz scored in the 16th minute, but they managed to hold on to the result for what could prove to be a decisive victory in their pursuit of retaining the title. With this result, Arsenal moved three points clear of Manchester City at the top of the table. The win delivers a major blow to their most likely title rivals, especially given that City are expected to face a heavy points deduction if they fail to overturn a guilty verdict on more than 100 charges of breaching Premier League rules.
Liverpool, for their part, produced perhaps their best spell in the early months of Andoni Iraola’s reign, with 30 excellent minutes after conceding the goal. However, they failed to take advantage of their chances, leaving the Spaniard with only his second defeat in 14 matches since arriving from Bournemouth. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta had been very critical of his team after they were knocked out by fourth-tier Fleetwood on Tuesday, one of the biggest shocks in the League Cup. The Arsenal boss got the response he wanted with a strong start from the champions.
Havertz, who had been one of the main culprits for the missed chances in midweek, was rewarded with a simple finish after an accurate, low cross from Declan Rice. The early goal lit up the match for a pulsating first 45 minutes, while Liverpool came back strongly. Iraola and Arteta had played together as children for the Basque club Antiguoko Kirol Elkartea. Arteta’s old friend gave his side one of the most uncomfortable afternoons they had experienced in recent seasons, while Arsenal’s solid defence had to hold firm until half-time.
Liverpool’s three forwards valued at over £100 million ($134 million) started the match together, with signs that the relationship between Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and Bradley Barcola is beginning to flourish. Isak did Arsenal a favour by not falling when he was pulled by Jurrien Timber, while failing to connect with a dangerous pass from Barcola. The visitors still had chances on the counterattack, where Bruno Guimaraes shot just wide, before Timber unintentionally blocked Noni Madueke’s ball towards goal, with Havertz waiting to finish. At the other end, Wirtz hit a penalty against the crossbar from a narrow angle, and Alexis Mac Allister should have headed the ball into the goal, instead of sending it into the stand behind David Raya’s goal.
Half-time gave Arsenal the opportunity to refocus and slow the tempo of Liverpool, as Iraola’s side tired in the second half. Alisson Becker made a stunning save to deflect Christos Tzolis’s shot, which was heading for the bottom corner, keeping Liverpool in the game. However, this intervention had little value, as Arsenal survived the final minutes to record another clean sheet and their eighth win in nine league matches. The defeat leaves Liverpool in fifth place, nine points behind the leaders and now facing a mountain to climb to get back into the title race.
Taken from France 24 Live News