Arsenal moved up to second place in the Premier League with a stellar display that could be the death knell for Liverpool’s Champions League hopes.
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Arsenal scored four sublime goals through Olivier Giroud, Hector Bellerin, Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez with a red card for Emre Can rounding off a gloomy day for Brendan Rodgers’ side.
The Reds find themselves seven points behind Manchester City in third, having played a game more and are now a gargantuan nine points behind the Gunners.
Here’s how we rated an Arsenal performance that may have just secured their top-four status for yet another year.
GK: David Ospina – 7
Relatively quiet first half but was there when he needed to be and showed how quickly he can get off his line. The only complaint you might have; he got quite a heavy hand on Henderson’s penalty and perhaps should have been stronger keep it out.
RB: Hector Bellerin – 7
A quite brilliant, opportunistic, and curling effort for Arsenal’s opener. Will have been disappointed he gave away the penalty though to prevent a clean sheet and will count himself lucky not to have got a second yellow.
CB: Per Mertesacker – 7
Considering he was up against the waspish and frenetic Sterling, he handled it surprisingly well and didn’t let the England international’s pace affect him.
CB: Laurent Koscielny – 7
Was only caught out once in the first half but is lucky Raheem Sterling and Lazar Markovic contrived to screw up what looked a simple tap-in.
There will be concern over a groin injury that forced him off early in the second half although Arsene Wenger attempted to play down it’s seriousness following the win.
LB: Nacho Monreal – 7
Was required to put in a more defensive shift today but was his incredibly reliable self at the back, as usual.
CM: Francis Coquelin – 8
It looked as if Coquelin may be isolated by his teammates in the first half as Liverpool looked to overrun the Arsenal midfield but he coped incredibly well and managed to put in one of his best performances of the season to frustrate and prevent multiple attacks.
CM: Santi Cazorla – 7
His usual cultured and comfortable self in possession, although sometimes forgot he needed to help Coquelin out defensively in the middle.
LW: Alexis Sanchez – 8
A quite beautiful goal with pace, dip and swerve that bamboozled Mignolet and left him rooted to the spot. He’ll be likely quite pleased he chose London over Liverpool in the summer after this result…
CAM: Mesut Ozil – 9
A wonderful pass that only he seems to see unlocked the Liverpool defence and was the set-up to Bellerin’s opener.
He will be happy to add another goal to his tally with a pin-point free-kick that seemed to nestle in the net as it curled into the corner, it was that accurate.
RW: Aaron Ramsey – 8
There were some raised eyebrows at his right-wing starting role but being involved in two of Arsenal’s first three goals shows just why he was.
Although is it another injury for the Welshman to contend with this season? He was forced off in second half with an apparent thigh issue.
CF: Olivier Giroud – 8
His seventh goal in six games, the only disappointment for the Frenchman will be that he had to wait until injury time to get it.
But it was worth the wait, a goal that showed his unnerving confidence in front of goal this season as he curled it in from distance with Mignolet always out of reach.
Substitutions:
Gabriel – 6
Replaced Koscielny but wasn’t really required to do much.
Mathieu Flamini – 6
His midfield bite helped Arsenal see the three points through to the end after Ramsey limped off.
Danny Welbeck – N/A
Had a late chance that was always heading wide from a tight angle.