Arsenal have been punished for a bunch of missed possibilities as Jakub Kiwior’s personal objective and Luis Diaz’s late strike despatched Liverpool into the fourth spherical of the FA Cup with a 2-0 win.
Mikel Arteta’s facet completed 2023 with back-to-back Premier League defeats and so they began brightly as they seemed to reply with a primary win of 2024. Nevertheless, their well-documented struggles in entrance of objective continued as probability after probability went begging towards Liverpool.
Martin Odegaard’s shot rattled the crossbar, whereas Reiss Nelson and Kai Havertz have been additionally responsible of missed alternatives because the guests, who hit the woodwork themselves by Trent Alexander-Arnold, received in on the break stage.
It was a way more even contest within the second half as either side fluffed their traces in entrance of objective. Bukayo Saka couldn’t convert Havertz’s cross, whereas Darwin Nunez’s move was behind Diaz as Liverpool threatened on the break.
The breakthrough finally got here 10 minutes from time as Kiwior diverted the ball previous Aaron Ramsdale and into his personal internet earlier than Diaz’s injury-time strike (90+5) despatched the Gunners crashing out of the FA Cup with a 3rd straight defeat in all competitions.
Arsenal have been knocked out of the FA Cup third spherical in two of the final three seasons (additionally 2021-22), this after having progressed from 24 of their earlier 25 third spherical ties beforehand.
Arsenal have just one win of their final seven matches in all competitions because the stress builds on Arteta to discover a answer to his facet’s struggles in entrance of objective.
In the meantime, Liverpool, who’re nonetheless in with an opportunity of profitable 4 competitions this season, can stay up for Monday’s fourth-round draw.
Benefit Liverpool?
Arsenal and Liverpool have now performed battle twice in little over two weeks. The Gunners battled to a 0-0 draw at Anfield within the Premier League December, however now Liverpool have FA Cup bragging rights after victory on the Emirates.
They are going to do all of it once more within the league on February 4 on the Emirates, reside on Sky Sports activities, with Jurgen Klopp’s league leaders probably having considerably of a psychological benefit after they return to north London in a couple of week time.
How Liverpool punished Arsenal…
Picture:
Luis Diaz celebrates after scoring in harm time to seal a 2-0 win for Liverpool on the Emirates
Arsenal got here flying out of the traps. Aaron Ramsdale’s lengthy ball excessive was taken down by Nelson, who strode away from Alexander-Arnold. The winger rounded Alisson however with the angle tight his shot hit the facet netting.
The Gunners continued to pile the stress on the guests as Havertz compelled Alisson into motion earlier than Nelson noticed a shot blocked after Odegaard didn’t shoot when the prospect introduced itself.
You would sense the frustration constructing amongst the house followers and that solely continued as one other superb probability went begging. Liverpool created issues of their very own making when Joe Gomez was dispossessed by Saka, who instantly despatched Havertz by down the center. Havertz unselfishly teed up Odegaard, who did shoot on this event, however the ball cannoned again off the crossbar.
Participant scores
Arsenal: Ramsdale (7), White (6), Saliba (6), Gabriel (6), Kiwior (5), Rice (6), Jorginho (6), Odegaard (6), Saka (5), Nelson (6), Havertz (5).
Subs: Martinelli (6), Nketiah (n/a), Smith Rowe (n/a), Trossard (n/a).
Liverpool: Alisson (8), Alexander-Arnold (8), Quansah (7), Konate (8), Gomez (6), Elliott (7), Mac Allister (6), Jones (8), Gakpo (7), Nunez (6), Diaz (7).
Subs: Jota (7), Gravenberch (7), Clark (n/a), Bradley (n/a).
Participant of the match: Ibrahima Konate
Liverpool have been second finest for a lot of the primary half however practically took the lead towards the run of play when Harvey Elliott’s outswinging nook discovered the pinnacle of Darwin Nunez, who received up above Ramsdale however despatched his header simply broad of the goal.
Arsenal’s wastefulness continued because the half wore on. Ben White’s highly effective strike was tipped over expertly by Alisson earlier than Havertz headed the resultant nook broad. In a half to neglect for the £65m summer time signing, one other weak effort was simply saved by the Liverpool goalkeeper after Liverpool had received into but extra issue taking part in out from the again.
Picture:
Bukayo Saka holds his head in his palms after lacking an opportunity to attain
As soon as once more Arteta’s workforce have been inches away from being punished as Alexander-Arnold’s rising strike crashed towards the crossbar to finish an action-packed first half.
Liverpool got here out after the break much-improved, and so they offered an actual risk going ahead as Curtis Jones curled over earlier than Nunez flashed an effort broad.
Regardless of Liverpool’s improved intent, the probabilities nonetheless got here for Arsenal and continued to not be taken with Saka solely in a position to hook over from a Havertz cross, earlier than Alisson confirmed his class on the hour mark. One other Havertz supply took a deflection off Jarell Quansah and heading in till the Liverpool goalkeeper brilliantly clawed the ball away, with Saka slicing broad on the follow-up.
Picture:
Bukayo Saka fails to transform an ungainly probability to attain
Frustration was constructing and constructing on the Emirates and as Klopp turned to his bench with Diogo Jota and Ryan Gravenberch launched, Arteta turned to Gabriel Martinelli. His entrance injected renewed hope for the annoyed Arsenal supporters, however it was Liverpool who seemed the extra more likely to go on and win the sport.
Ramsdale was known as upon with 13 minutes remaining to push broad a low effort by Diaz earlier than Jota headed towards the bar from Alexander-Arnold’s ensuing nook.
Staff information
Arsenal: Mikel Arteta made three adjustments from the facet that misplaced at Fulham on New 12 months’s Eve. Jorginho got here into midfield with Kai Havertz shifting up entrance rather than Eddie Nketiah, whereas Reiss Nelson was most well-liked to Gabriel Martinelli on the wing. The ultimate change noticed Aaron Ramsdale substitute David Raya in objective.
Liverpool: Liverpool have been with out Virgil van Dijk, who was changed by Jarell Quansah. Harvey Elliott performed on the proper of the three-man ahead line with Dominik Szoboszlai’s superior midfielder position taken by Cody Gakpo. Wataru Endo is away on worldwide responsibility with Japan and he was changed by Alexis Mac Allister.
Nevertheless, the stress finally advised as Alexander-Arnold’s inswinging cross was headed past a diving Ramsdale by Kiwior.
Arsenal pushed for a late equaliser however Liverpool’s place in spherical 4 was confirmed when Diaz smashed house within the fifth minute of added time to spark jubilant celebrations amongst the 6,000 travelling supporters.
Picture:
Jakub Kiwior deflects Trent Alexander-Arnold’s fre-kick previous Aaron Ramsdale and into his personal internet
What’s subsequent?
Arsenal’s subsequent sport is on Saturday January 20 after they host Crystal Palace within the Premier League; kick-off 12.30pm. The Gunners then journey to Nottingham Forest on Tuesday January 30; kick-off 7.30pm.
Liverpool’s subsequent outing is at house to Fulham of their Carabao Cup semi-final first leg on Wednesday; kick-off 8pm. Jurgen Klopp’s facet then go to Bournemouth within the Premier League on Sunday January 21, reside on Sky Sports activities; kick-off 4.30pm.
Wednesday tenth January 7:00pm
Kick off 8:00pm