Mikel Arteta hailed Arsenal’s “character” as they returned to the top of the Premier League and plunged Liverpool into turmoil after Bukayo Saka’s double inspired a thrilling 3-2 win on Sunday.
Arteta’s side have emerged as title challengers and this hard-fought success at the Emirates Stadium was another significant statement of intent.
The Gunners took the lead inside the first minute through Gabriel Martinelli before Darwin Nunez equalised for Liverpool.
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Gunners fire to claim victory over Reds | 01:47
Saka put Arsenal back in front late in the first half, but although Roberto Firmino equalised after the interval, Saka’s nerveless penalty sealed Arsenal’s eighth win from their nine league matches.
Last weekend’s 3-1 win over Tottenham added to the growing feeling that Arteta has built a team worth taking seriously and the way they refused to be denied by Liverpool underlined that impression.
“It’s great, especially the way we played and the atmosphere we generated. We deserved to win,” Arteta said after Arsenal moved one point clear of second placed Manchester City.
“Liverpool were very efficient in the way they converted their chances, but we showed a lot of composure and character in difficult moments to overcome them.
“We needed to hang in there. The connection, the way the unit worked, I was really happy with that. The team dealt with it with a lot of maturity and composure.” While Arsenal are on the up, Liverpool are in turmoil after their worst start for 10 years.
Without a win in their last three league games, Jurgen Klopp’s men are languishing 14 points behind Arsenal in 10th place.
They look a shadow of the side that came within two games of an unprecedented quadruple last season.
“I saw a team with the right attitude and put in a proper fight, but in the second half I didn’t see these football moments as much,” Klopp insisted.
“I don’t think it is a clear penalty, it is a very soft one. It is a situation where the referee could have another look at it in real time.”
Klopp had already conceded it was unlikely they would win the title after such a disappointing start and few would disagree now.
Although Klopp rejects claims his intense management style has worn down his players, on the seventh anniversary of the German’s appointment, the sight of Liverpool with only two wins from eight league games is jarring.
“We don’t have to look yet at the table, but we know where we are. We are not top. We have to sort it and we will,” Klopp said.
“Trent Alexander-Arnold is injured unfortunately. Like Luis Diaz, it doesn’t look good for both.”
Responding to Arteta’s plea to show “no fear”, Arsenal tore into Liverpool as they launched a blistering counter that gave them the lead after just 58 seconds.
Saka led the raid as he picked out Martin Odegaard’s run and the Dane slipped a pin-point pass through to Martinelli, who got behind Alexander-Arnold for a clinical finish from eight yards.
– Sucker punch –
Liverpool equalised in the 34th minute when Gabriel failed to cut out Alexander-Arnold’s long pass and Nunez flicked the ball into Luis Diaz’s path.
Diaz whipped over a superb low cross and Nunez slid in to flick his shot past Aaron Ramsdale from six yards.
Arsenal regained the lead deep into stoppage-time with a devastating sucker punch.
Thiago Alcantara carelessly surrendered possession and Martinelli teased Jordan Henderson and Alexander-Arnold before sliding over a low cross that Saka gleefully converted from close-range.
Firmino resumed his role as Arsenal’s long-time tormentor with his 10th goal in 17 games against them in the 53rd minute.
The Brazilian was picked out by Diogo Jota’s inch-perfect pass and his sublime finish into the far corner matched the quality of the assist.
Arsenal won it in the 76th minute when Thiago conceded a penalty with his challenge on Gabriel Jesus.
Saka infamously missed a crucial penalty in England’s Euro 2020 final defeat against Italy, but he held his nerve with an emphatic finish.
Gunners fire to claim victory over Reds | 01:47
– Ronaldo’s epic milestone –
Cristiano Ronaldo struck the 700th club goal of his career as Manchester United came from behind to beat Everton 2-1 at Goodison Park on Sunday.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner was again left on the bench by Erik ten Hag but was handed an early introduction by an injury to Anthony Martial.
By that stage it was already 1-1 as Antony cancelled out Alex Iwobi’s opener for Everton.
Ronaldo took his chance just before half-time to give United a deserved three points from an error-strewn game by both sides.
Victory takes Ten Hag’s men up to fifth and within nine points of leaders Arsenal with a game in hand.
The Red Devils were seeking a response to being thrashed 6-3 by Manchester City last weekend but got off to the worst possible start.
On his first Premier League start since arriving for £60 million ($67 million) from Real Madrid, Casemiro was culpable for the opening goal as he was robbed in possession by Amadou Onana and the ball eventually broke for Iwobi to curl into the top corner from outside the box.
Everton came into the game with the best defensive record in the league, but were quickly undone as United levelled within 10 minutes.
Antony became the first United player to score in his first three Premier League games with a cool finish from Martial’s pass.
Martial only lasted 30 minutes after pulling up with a hip injury in the warm-up and his departure paved the way for Ronaldo to make his entrance.
City crunch Saints to remain undefeated | 01:13
The 37-year-old has had to get used to life on the sidelines under Ten Hag. However, Ronaldo gave his Dutch coach a reminder of the predatory instincts he retains.
Casemiro made amends for his earlier error by winning possession in midfield and playing in his former Real Madrid teammate to fire low under Jordan Pickford.
That strike took Ronaldo’s tally in two spells with United to 144. Madrid’s record goalscorer hit 450 for the Spanish giants, while he scored 101 times for Juventus and five for Sporting Lisbon.
Ronaldo should have had a second just before the hour mark as he nodded wide from another teasing delivery from Casemiro.
Everton had been on a seven-game unbeaten run, but offered little in the search of an equaliser until a late aerial assault and were lucky to avoid conceding a third goal 10 minutes from time.
Marcus Rashford pounced on a mistake by Iwobi to round Pickford and slot into an empty net, but the United forward was penalised for handball by a VAR review.
– Elsewhere –
Earlier, Gianluca Scamacca’s delightful chip helped West Ham strike back from a goal down to beat Fulham 3-1.
The Italian international has scored six times in his last 10 games for the Hammers since a £30 million move from Sassuolo, but David Moyes’ men were forced to come from behind at the London Stadium.
Fulham were without talisman Aleksandar Mitrovic through injury but went in front after just five minutes when Andreas Pereira smashed in from a narrow angle.
Jarrod Bowen levelled from the penalty spot before half-time after Pereira brought down Craig Dawson in the box.
Scamacca then produced a moment of magic as he lofted Lucas Paqueta’s pass over the helpless Bernd Leno.
Michail Antonio came off the bench to secure the three points in stoppage time. After winning just one of their first seven league games, back-to-back victories have lifted West Ham to within four points of the top six.
Crystal Palace also came from behind after Pascal Struijk’s early goal for Leeds at Selhurst Park.
Odsonne Edouard headed in Eberechi Eze’s free-kick to quickly level and Eze sealed a 2-1 win 14 minutes from time with a fine low strike from Wilfried Zaha’s backheel.
Manchester United are in action later on Sunday when the Red Devils travel to Everton.
