Bukayo Saka continued his purple patch by scoring a brace to give Arsenal a 3-2 win over Liverpool at Emirates Stadium.
It was a game that had it all, with one wrong hand, injuries to the Reds main holders and a controversial winning penalty, as the Gunners make sure they stay ahead of the Premier League.
Gabriel Martinelli shot Arsenal ahead against Liverpool with 58 seconds
While Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus gave their best again, it was Saka who shone as the Brit continued his excellent form this season.
The 21-year-old striker has now scored three goals and four assists in his last six league games, scoring the winning goal from a penalty to put Liverpool to the sword.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp expressed his “excitement” over Arsenal’s fit trio during Friday’s pre-match press conference.
In response, the young Brazilian ace Martinelli thanked the coach for his kind words by scoring the first goal after just 58 seconds.
Arsenal tore up the Reds with a fierce counterattack before Martin Odegaard’s perfectly thought-out pass found Martinelli, who coolly overtook Alisson.
Despite Arsenal’s excellent offensive play in goal preparation, Liverpool’s defense left a lot to be desired with Perry Groves being particularly critical of the Reds’ bottom line.
🚨 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘 🚨
🔴 Last 6 league matches for Bukayo Saka:
🆚 Fulham 🅰️
🆚Aston Villa🅰️
🆚 Manchester United ⚽️
🆚Brentford 🅰️🅰️
🆚Tottenham❌
🆚 Liverpool ⚽️⚽️ https://t.co/ozdx5ccAz2– WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) October 9, 2022
Mo Salah’s body language said it all after seeing his team fall behind in the first minute
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The FA investigates the separation between Arsenal and Liverpool as the coaches talk to the referee
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“There is no closure. Virgil van Dijk is the one who puts Martinelli on the side, Liverpool’s defense was all over the place, “he told talkSPORT.
“It’s too easy Arsenal. Trento [Alexander-Arnold] he simply lets Martinelli go and Van Dijk puts him on the line.
“It’s a brilliant ending, but Liverpool’s defense is all over the place. It’s a great start for Arsenal, but a very, very poor start for Liverpool. “
Rocked by the initial setback, Liverpool quickly regrouped and looked menacing through Darwin Núñez and Luis Díaz.
Liverpool got their reward in the 34th minute when Alexander-Arnold and Diaz teamed up to play on Nunez, who fired in a deserved eight-yard equalizer.
It was the first goal of the summer signing in more than two months.
Liverpool’s improvement paid off when Darwin Núñez scored a well-deserved draw.
Klopp’s team went from strength to strength and, with the locals on the ropes, Arteta looked like a man pining for the half-time whistle.
But Liverpool’s defense became their undoing once again, as Martinelli’s pace on the break overcame the feeble challenges of Alexander-Arnold and Jordan Henderson before busting Saka out to score from close range just before half-time.
An Arsenal optimist comes out of the traps in the second half and immediately passes close to Odegaard.
But Arsenal were again stopped eight minutes after the second half when Diogo Jota overtook substitute Roberto Firmino, who delivered a graceful angled shot to equalize the score.
Liverpool failed to manage Arsenal’s counterattack and Saka put the Gunners back in the lead
Roberto Firmino’s goal was his 10th goal in this match, more than any other player
Saka scored his penalty to win the match against Mikel Arteta
If Liverpool had the upper hand in the first half, there was no doubt that Arsenal controlled the second.
Mikel Arteta’s men enjoyed much of the ball possession and passed close to both Saka and Jesús.
But the Gunners got a hand for their winner when Thiago Alcantara prevented Jesus in the box from giving the hosts a penalty.
Obsessed with his mistake in the Euro 2020 final penalty kick, Saka boldly stepped forward and banished the Wembley ghost by pulling Alisson from underneath to claim his team’s maximum score.
20 – At 21 years and 34 days, Bukayo Saka is the second youngest player to reach 20 Premier League goals for Arsenal, behind only Nicolas Anelka (20 years and 41 days). Lion. pic.twitter.com/8a8T6Sg8Uq
– OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 9, 2022
But the Reds will be upset because Thiago’s contact with Jesus in the penalty area was minimal and the VAR confirmed the penalty decision without sending referee Michael Oliver to see him a second time.
It will add to his frustration after what looked like a certain Gabriel handball failed to transform into a Liverpool penalty in the first half, with the result against Arsenal leaving Liverpool in tenth place and six points out. from the first four.
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revealed
The FA investigates the separation between Arsenal and Liverpool as the coaches talk to the referee
GAME DAY
Everton – Man United 1-2 LIVE: Ronaldo ‘Incredible’ wins the game with his 700th career goal
update
Casillas claims his Twitter account was hacked after a post allegedly revealed he was gay
REACTION
Arsenal – Liverpool 3-2 LIVE: Saka doubles the Gunners with 14 points ahead of the Reds
