Gabriel Martinelli has been involved in eight goals in his last seven Premier League games at the Emirates Stadium
Bukayo Saka’s penalty ended a thrilling encounter and put Arsenal back at the top of the Premier League with a win over Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal got off to a perfect start when Gabriel Martinelli put them ahead after 58 seconds, but Liverpool reacted well and striker Darwin Nunez deservedly equalized when he brought home a Luis Diaz cross after 34 minutes.
Saka restored Arsenal’s lead in first-half injury time after Martinelli made a save on the break, only for Liverpool, who equalized again eight minutes after the break when substitute Roberto Firmino came on for the injured Diaz was shot over goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.
Liverpool, who felt they were denied a penalty in the first half as defender Gabriel managed, felt a further sense of injustice when Thiago Alcantara was penalized for a foul on Gabriel Jesus with 14 minutes to go, leaving Saka cool off the point transformed.
Arsenal’s greatest statement
Arsenal hinted at their maturity and progression as they did overwhelmed Tottenham in their last game in the Premier League, but it was the biggest signal yet that they are firmly moving in the right direction under manager Mikel Arteta.
The Gunners got off to a lightning start with that Martinelli goal, but what must have pleased Arteta even more was the way Arsenal reacted to Liverpool’s two equalizers and rallied to put themselves back in front and eventually end the win .
Arsenal’s mentality has been fragile in the past but here they showed the strength and resilience to keep their nerve against a Liverpool side who have made a habit of beating them in recent years.
Martinelli was outstanding for Arsenal and tormented Liverpool’s defense the whole time, scoring the opening goal and then leading the breakaway where Saka restored his lead just before half-time.
The game-winning penalty infuriated Liverpool but Saka showed confidence and composure, stepping forward and drilling the resulting penalty past Alisson.
And Emirates Stadium now carries a real sense of unity behind Arsenal and their manager, who have assembled an impressive mix of youth and experience that suggests greater things still lie ahead for this side.
Liverpool vulnerable again
Liverpool have developed a nasty habit of often falling behind early in games and it’s an ominous sign of their vulnerability this season.
Arsenal needed less than a minute to slice through the visitors, Brazilian striker Martinelli winning his first clash with Trent Alexander-Arnold to immediately put Jurgen Klopp’s side behind.
Liverpool have shown character to come back twice but they are currently a shadow of the side who struggled for four trophies last season and it already looks like their Premier League aim will be limited to that fighting for a place in the top four.
They are easy to reach and concede too many goals, with Alexander-Arnold struggling badly – although his removal at half-time may have been more due to an ankle injury he picked up trying to stop a Martinelli cross in a tackle as his performance.
Liverpool defensive behemoth Virgil van Dijk looks more suspect than he has since coming to Anfield, while the midfield balance is off.
Mohamed Salah is completely out of shape in attack. It was still a surprise that the Egyptian striker was substituted considering he can score goals out of thin air, but he’s been so anonymous at the Emirates that he can hardly complain about his dismissal.
player of the game
Gabriel MartinelliGabriel Martinelli
lineups
arsenal
formation 4-2-3-1
1Ramsdale
4White12Above6Gabriel18Tomiyasu
5party34Xhaka
7Of8thØdegaard11Martinelli
9Gabriel Jesus
- 1Ramsdale
- 4White
- 12Above
- 6Gabriel
- 18Tomiyasu
- 5party
- 34Xhaka
- 7OfReplaced byFerreira Vieiraat 90+4′protocol
- 8thØdegaard45 minutes bookedReplaced byTierneyat 82′protocol
- 11Martinelli
- 9Gabriel JesusReplaced byNketiahat 90+1′protocol
substitute
- 3Tierney
- 14Nketiah
- 16Keep
- 17Cedric Soares
- 21Ferreira Vieira
- 23Sambi care
- 24Nelson
- 27Oliveira Alencar
- 30gymnast
Liverpool
formation 4-2-3-1
1Alison
66Alexander Arnold32Matip4van Dijk21Tsimikas
14Henderson6Thiago Alcantara
11salah20To the23Diaz
27Nunez
- 1Alison
- 66Alexander ArnoldReplaced bygomezat 45′protocolBooked at 71 minutes
- 32MatipReplaced byKonateat 69′protocol
- 4van Dijk
- 21Tsimikas
- 14Henderson
- 6Thiago Alcantara
- 11salahReplaced byFabinhoat 69′protocol
- 20To theReplaced byEliotat 81′protocol
- 23Diaz6 minutes bookedReplaced byFirminoat 42′protocol
- 27Nunez
substitute
- 2gomez
- 3Fabinho
- 5Konate
- 7Milner
- 9Firmino
- 19Eliot
- 28Freitas Gouveia Carvalho
- 47Phillips
- 62waiter
live text
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Game ends, Arsenal 3, Liverpool 2.
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Second half ends, Arsenal 3, Liverpool 2.
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attempt blocked. Harvey Elliott (Liverpool) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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attempt blocked. Jordan Henderson (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Foul by Ibrahimovic (Liverpool).
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Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Substitution Arsenal. Fabio Vieira replaces Bukayo Saka.
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Konstantinos Tsimikas (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Ben White (Arsenal).
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Substitution Arsenal. Eddie Nketiah replaces Gabriel Jesus.
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Arsenal corner. Collected by Virgil van Dijk.
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Thiago (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Granit Xhaka (Arsenal).
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Substitution Arsenal. Kieran Tierney replaces Martin Odegaard.
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Handball by Darwin Núñez (Liverpool).
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Substitution Liverpool. Harvey Elliott replaces Diogo Jota.
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Corner of Liverpool. Goal conceded by Takehiro Tomiyasu.
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Fabinho (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal).
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Goal! Arsenal 3, Liverpool 2 Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the bottom left corner.
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