Arsenal
dramatically shook up the
Premier League title race
by securing a 3-1 victory over leaders
Liverpool
on Sunday as
Gabriel Martinelli
capitalized on a mistake from Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker in the second half, scoring to the delight of the energetic Emirates Stadium crowd.
Bukayo Saka had given Arsenal an early lead, but a peculiar own goal from Gabriel Magalhaes allowed Liverpool to equalize just before halftime.
Leandro Trossard sealed the win for Arsenal in stoppage-time, taking advantage of a numerical advantage after Liverpool's Ibrahima Konate received a red card late in the game.
This crucial win propelled Arsenal into second place, trailing Liverpool by just two points after 23 matches each.
It marked Liverpool's first domestic defeat since September, and the result also provided a boost to reigning champions
Manchester City
, who have two games in hand and can take the top spot if they win both.
The victory was significant for Arsenal, signaling their determination to challenge for the title, especially after their last-minute collapse in the previous season's race against City.
Arsenal's breakthrough came in the 14th minute when Saka capitalized on a defensive lapse from Liverpool, tapping in the rebound after Kai Havertz's shot was saved. Despite Liverpool's equalizer in the first half, Arsenal took the lead again in the 67th minute when Martinelli seized an opportunity created by Alisson's error, leaving the Liverpool defense exposed.
The match took a turn in Arsenal's favour when Konate received his second booking and was sent off in the 88th minute. Trossard's goal in stoppage-time, deflected off Virgil van Dijk, secured the three points for Arsenal and fueled manager Mikel Arteta's jubilant celebration on the touchline.
The victory showcased Arsenal's potential to contend for their first league title since 2004, making a bold statement in the race against Liverpool and Manchester City.
English (US) ·