Arsenal showed their mettle to return the top of the Premier League table after a thrilling 3-2 win over a ramshackle Liverpool.
Like a pack of wolves with eyes on their prey, Arsenal’s forward line charged forward on the transition and had the ball in the net when the clock struck 57 seconds.
The gutsy Gunners made a rip-roaring start when Gabriel Martinelli scored the opening goal of the game, lifting an already lively Emirates. But Darwin Nunez blasted Liverpool back level before the break, scoring his first goal in more than two months after dispatching Luis Diaz’s pinpoint cross.
His goal looked to have sent the teams into half-time on level terms, until Bukayo Saka tucked home after a marvelous added-time Arsenal counterattack. It was all square seven minutes after the restart, though, as Roberto Firmino extended his impressive record against the Gunners. But Saka would get the last laugh, slotting home an ice-cool penalty to send his side to the summit of the table.
As the closing stages approached and Arsenal’s perfect home record began to look like it was slipping away, a few minutes of madness from Liverpool allowed the Gunners to capitalize. Sunday League-like defending led to waves of Arsenal pressure around the penalty area, and eventually, the Reds’ resilience waned.
Although it was soft penalty, Thiago Alcantara had taken Gabriel Jesus down and the Gunners forward’s cries were heard by Oliver. Cue a mass scuffle between both sets of players, but away from the madness, a cool-headed Saka waited for his moment. When it came, the England ace was spot-on and beat Alisson – who guessed right – to make it 3-2.
Manchester City’s lead at the top was only a short one this weekend. In just over 24 hours after thumping Southampton 4-0, the Citizens were usurped by the perfect Arsenal, who’re remarkably ahead of the champions.