Arsenal

Arsenal put up a fight, forcing Liverpool to fight for every inch, but Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino were on hand to see the Reds through to a ninth ...

It is hard to separate the pair on recent form, however. In more positive news, Ibrahima Konate has recovered from a knock that has seen the Frenchman miss his side's last two games and makes the bench. No Mohamed Salah in the starting lineup for Liverpool as he recovers from a foot injury, but he's available off the bench for the Reds if needed. Meanwhile, the visitors have to contend with a minor foot injury to Mohamed Salah, which was sustained away to Brighton in their 2-0 win. It springs a Liverpool break for Sadio Mane behind the defense, but a heavy touch allows Gabriel to make a last-ditch contest and Mane's sliding shot flies well over the bar. The Brazilian's volley is planted straight into the ground, and it's an easy one for Matip to clear. Arsenal continues to push for a goal, but the game feels out of reach. Alisson has it covered though, and the eventual shot is over the bar. A slow buildup, but a through ball from Thiago — who made the mistake just moments ago — unlocked Arsenal and freed Diogo Jota down the left edge of the penalty area, and somehow the Portuguese international strikes from a very tight angle. 62nd min: GOAL! Liverpool! The Reds suddenly have this one in hand, and it's the substitute Bobby Firmino. Ramsdale saved the first chance from Salah despite a deflection, but Arsenal never clears. 88th min: CHANCE, Arsenal! Arsenal is still searching for a consolation goal, and Xhaka picked out Martinelli whose low effort flashed just inches wide of the far post. Liverpool’s defense held strong through the onslaught however, and allowed the Reds to bide their time until Arsenal made a mistake.

Minute-by-minute report: Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino both love scoring against Arsenal … and both did it again after Liverpool weathered a first-half ...

Liverpool moved to within one point of the leaders Manchester City after a hard-fought 2-0 win over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.Diogo Jota and the ...

An awful backpass from Thiago is intercepted by Lacazette, who shields the ball from Alisson and plays it back to Odegaard on the edge of the area. The goal was created quite brilliantly by Robertson, who won the ball high up the field from Saka and surged into the area from the left. He got a good hand on the ball but could only push it into the net rather than round the post.56 min Jota's goal was his last touch - he and Luis Diaz are replaced by Mo Salah and Roberto Firmino.Diogo Jota scores against Arsenal again! We had half-time to correct things, we did it and we dominated the second half." Martinelli tries with another of his solo runs, but this time he runs the ball out of play.70 min Smith Rowe has a shot blocked by Matip. Arsenal are starting to get frustrated with a few refereeing decisions, and with the scoreline.67 min Emile Smith Rowe replaces Martin Odegaard, who had a great chance to give Arsenal the lead just before Jota's goal.65 min The last 10 minutes have been a savage lesson for Arsenal, and a painful reminder that - for all their admirable improvement - they are still a long way short of the best teams.Roberto Firmino makes it two! Liverpool move to within one point of Manchester City after a hard-fought win at the Emirates. They were made to work extremely hard by Arsenal, particularly during an intriguing first half.Liverpool upped the tempo after half-time and took control through goals from Diogo Jota and the substitute Roberto Firmino. Aaron Ramsdale, one of the stars of Arsenal's season, was badly at fault for the first goal. There was still plenty to encourage Mikel Arteta, not least a virtuouso performance from Gabriel Martinelli, but ultimately Liverpool's class and experience were decisive.88 min A lovely move from Arsenal. Smith Rowe, Partey and Xhaka work the ball across the field to Martinelli, who shapes a first-time curling shot back across goal. Their battle for the title in 2018-19 was immense; this year's might be even better.74 min Nicolas Pepe replaces Bukayo Saka, whose individual performance was a microcosm of Arsenal's: superb in the first half, subdued in the second.74 min Liverpool are in complete control, and Arsenal need something to get the crowd going. It was a more defensive performance for me and Trent tonight – Martinelli and Saka are really hard work – but it was nice to get an assist as well. It’s really special, not having a brilliant first half and then turning the game our way.“[On the instant substitution after the first goal] We wanted to bring fresh players on. Let’s just keep going and we’ll see.”“Our high press was not as accurate as it normally is in the first half. I was not angry at half-time – I just wanted us to change a few things, and that’s what the boys did.

There's a sense of optimism and opportunity at the Emirates, but there is still one key question when it comes to facing top teams.

The squad remains young and is not deep, while Lacazette is out of contract in the summer and hoping for a longer deal than the one year the club has so far offered him, and so Arsenal remains vulnerable. But for the first time since long before the end of the Arsène Wenger era, there is a sense of progress and optimism. Whatever happens, the mood is very different at Arsenal now than it was at the end of August. Then, after starting the season with three straight defeats, there was a clear sense that manager Mikel Arteta was in trouble. The season finished with four straight wins, but any optimism that and a summer of significant, if not necessarily exciting, spending had engendered vanished with those defeats in August to Brentford, Chelsea and City. Arsenal, winner of five straight, is already in fourth, with three games in hand on fifth-place Manchester United. Qualifying for the Champions League for the first time since 2016 would represent a major achievement. It wins a handful of games in a row and everybody gets very excited, and then it plays a big side and loses, and everybody realizes its wins were all against weaker teams.