Arsenal 0 – 2 Liverpool

Arsenal have been punished for a number of missed probabilities as Jakub Kiwior’s personal purpose 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 again-to-again Premier League defeats they usually began brightly as they regarded to reply with a primary win of 2024. However, their nicely-documented struggles in entrance of purpose continued as likelihood after likelihood went begging in opposition to 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 via Trent Alexander-Arnold, obtained in on the break stage.

It was a way more even contest within the second half as each side fluffed their strains in entrance of purpose. Bukayo Saka couldn’t convert Havertz’s cross, whereas Darwin Nunez’s move was behind Diaz as Liverpool threatened on the break.

The breakthrough ultimately got here 10 minutes from time as Kiwior diverted the ball previous Aaron Ramsdale and into his personal internet earlier than Diaz’s damage-time strike (90+5) despatched the Gunners crashing out of the FA Cup with a 3rd straight defeat in all competitions.

Arsenal have just one win of their final seven matches in all competitions because the stress builds on Arteta to discover a resolution to his facet’s struggles in entrance of purpose.

Meanwhile, Liverpool, who’re nonetheless in with an opportunity of successful 4 competitions this season, can stay up for Monday’s fourth-spherical draw.

How Liverpool punished Arsenal…

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 pressured Alisson into motion earlier than Nelson noticed a shot blocked after Odegaard didn’t shoot when the prospect introduced itself.

You may sense the frustration constructing amongst the house followers and that solely continued as one other superb likelihood went begging. Liverpool created issues of their very own making when Joe Gomez was dispossessed by Saka, who instantly despatched Havertz via down the center. Havertz unselfishly teed up Odegaard, who did shoot on this event, however the ball cannoned again off the crossbar.

Liverpool have been second finest for a lot of the primary half however almost took the lead in opposition to the run of play when Harvey Elliott’s outswinging nook discovered the pinnacle of Darwin Nunez, who obtained 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 obtained into but extra issue enjoying out from the again.

Once once more Arteta’s staff have been inches away from being punished as Alexander-Arnold’s rising strike crashed in opposition to the crossbar to finish an motion-packed first half.

Liverpool got here out after the break a lot-improved, they usually supplied an actual menace going ahead as Curtis Jones curled over earlier than Nunez flashed an effort broad.

Despite Liverpool’s improved intent, the possibilities nonetheless got here for Arsenal and continued to not be taken with Saka solely capable of hook over from a Havertz cross, earlier than Alisson confirmed his class on the hour mark. Another Havertz supply took a deflection off Jarell Quansah and appeared to be heading in till the Liverpool goalkeeper brilliantly clawed the ball away, with Saka slicing broad on the comply with-up.

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 pissed off Arsenal supporters, but it surely was Liverpool who regarded the extra prone 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 in opposition to the bar from Alexander-Arnold’s ensuing nook.

However, the stress ultimately 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 dwelling within the fifth minute of added time to spark jubilant celebrations amongst the 6,000 travelling supporters.

Arteta: We have to be extra environment friendly | ‘We want to stay with the gamers’

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta:

“Well the performance was there and the amount of chances too. We just have to win the game, but we lost it and we are not capitalising. To win games we need to capitalise.

“When you’re higher than the most effective staff in Europe and also you generate that quantity of probabilities…I’ve not seen a staff do it in opposition to them like we have now accomplished it. When my staff performs with that braveness and perspective in opposition to most likely the most effective staff in Europe proper now what can I do however stick by them?

“It is frustrating but what can we do. I can’t tell them play bad, don’t shoot, and score an own goal. It is not enough. The reality is, it is not enough.

“Listen [do I say] play worse than Liverpool, be worse and we’ll win the sport. When my staff performs with this confidence what can I do? I’m nonetheless behind them 100 per cent. It is what it’s and we have now to proceed to play the identical approach and be extra environment friendly.”

Analysis: Same previous story for Arsenal as Arteta wants to seek out solutions

Sky Sports’ Oliver Yew at Emirates Stadium:

It was a case of standard story for Arsenal as they wasted a number of fantastic probabilities in defeat to Liverpool.

Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, Reiss Nelson and Martin Odegaard have been all responsible because the Gunners racked up an xG of 1.89 however got here out on the top of a 2-0 defeat after Jakub Kiwior’s personal purpose and Luis Diaz’s late strike.

There have been related issues in opposition to West Ham and Fulham. Arsenal have scored one purpose from and xG of 6.47 during the last three video games and you may sense the frustration amongst the house supporters. So a lot in order that one fan stood alone and bellowed in direction of the Arsenal bench: “Sign a striker.”

Brentford’s Ivan Toney and Bournemouth’s Dominic Solanke have been names linked with Arsenal, however chatting with the media after exiting the FA Cup Mikel Arteta described that risk as not trying “realistic” whereas suggesting he has to work with and stick by the gamers he is obtained.

However, Gabriel Jesus is injured, Kai Havertz didn’t show to be the reply in opposition to Liverpool, Nketiah was not trusted and Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are struggling for type. Problems that each one have to be solved.

It’s now three straight defeats in all competitions for the Gunners. They have only one win of their final seven matches in all competitions. The Spaniard described it as a tough second, however Arsenal’s winter break begins now and comes at a great second for Arteta.

He wants to seek out solutions to his facet’s purpose struggles and rapidly.

Klopp pleased with Liverpool battle

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp:

“I’m super proud. It’s a super difficult draw. Maybe the most difficult we could have got.

“With all of the issues we needed to take into account coming right here, Arsenal lined up barely otherwise, that was good. We modified a bit at half-time. We have been actually within the recreation within the second half. We scored the targets and introduced the children on. We fought for 95 minutes. We have a winter break now.

“For tonight, great. Wednesday is the next game and then a few days off.

“We must make steps if you wish to be the place we’re and round that space then we have now to make steps the entire time. It wasn’t a straightforward recreation to get pleasure from within the first half.”

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