The sting in the tail, however, would devastate them, sparking boos at full-time and the feeling that the club have stumbled into a mini-crisis.
Liverpool's joy knew no bounds. There had been the impression that this FA Cup tie was more important for Arsenal, given the form that they had taken into it - three Premier League defeats in five. The need for them to recover momentum was greater. Liverpool, sitting pretty at the top of the table, also had the security of their shot at Carabao Cup glory; they face Fulham in the first leg of their semi-final at Anfield on Wednesday.
It was Liverpool who rode out the Arsenal storm or, to put it another way, watched them repeatedly lack the needed ruthlessness in front of goal; for Arteta, it is an increasingly worrying trend. And then Jürgen Klopp's team hit them hard.
The opening goal on 80 minutes was a body blow for Arsenal, the excellent Trent Alexander-Arnold whipping in a free-kick from the left and Jakub Kiwior, under no huge pressure, directing an attempted clearing header into his own net.
The die was cast. Top of the league at Christmas but now fourth, Arsenal have had a sinking feeling. Luis Díaz would add further insult at the bitter end, lashing into the near top corner after a break involving Darwin Núñez and the substitute Diogo Jota.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der January 08, 2024-Ausgabe von The Guardian.
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Diese Geschichte stammt aus der January 08, 2024-Ausgabe von The Guardian.
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