Mikel Arteta’s tactics are working very well in the season as Arsenal are running high on the top spot of the Premier League. They defeated Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool FC on Sunday to again take the first spot from Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
The Gunners hosted the Community Shield champions at Emirates Stadium and won the game in a neck-to-neck contest. Gabriel Martinelli scored in the first minute for Arsenal with the help of a through ball from captain Martin Ødegaard.
Just after the half-hour mark, the match was equalised by Darwin Nunez with the help of a right-wing cross from Luis Diaz. But Bukayo Saka sent the Gunners to the driving seat just before the half-time whistle. Saka made sure that Gabriel Martinelli’s perfect pass gets in the net.
In the second half, Liverpool again equalized the whole situation. Roberto Firmino’s bottom corner strike on Diogo Jota’s through ball was enough to beat Aaron Ramsdale.
But Arsenal was drawn a Penalty kick and Bukayo Saka successfully converted the chance into a goal. And Jurgen Klopp’s Reds failed to get an equalizer or a winner in the dying minutes of the match.
What’s next for Liverpool and Arsenal?
Currently, Liverpool are 14 points behind the league leaders, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal. They’re in the 10th spot. And they’re almost out of the title picture for this season. The Gunners are also just one point clear of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City and Rampaging Erling Haaland.
Arsenal has lost six of their last seven matches against Liverpool. So the happiness of finally beating the Reds was evidently visible on the faces of the players and also the fans.
After the match, the brace scorer Bukayo Saka said “The last 2-3 years we’ve struggled against Liverpool, so to win today in front of our fans is special. It gives us more confidence because they’re a fantastic team and we have a lot of respect for them.”
