Liverpool stormed the Emirates and completed a league double on Arsenal with a 2-0 win for Jurgen Klopp’s men in North London.
The defeat was Arsenal’s first since New Year’s Day, and signified a real title challenge for the Merseyside team with nine games to end the season.
For all Arsenal’s improvement under Mikel Arteta, this was a reminder of the ground they still have to make up if they are to return to their previous high standards of challenging for the title and playing amongst Europe’s elite.
The defeat was also one game gone for the Gunners who still have two games in hand but one of them is against North London rivals Tottenham, who made slight ground on the Gunners with a 2-0 win against Brighton Hove and Albion earlier on.
Arsenal still have top four in their hands but they will have to learn from this defeat quickly and return to winning ways.
Heroes
Gabriel Martinelli has benefitted from continuity and fitness and perhaps the sale of Aubameyang.
Not many strikers can say they enjoy playing against Trent Alexander-Arnold, but Martinelli had him on his toes and pressed him out of possession time after time. Unfortunate to be on the losing side today.
Thomas Partey is playing his best football since joining Arsenal two seasons ago and looked a class above everyone else in the middle of the field.
He picked loose balls, dictated play and initiated attack as the Gunners produced a class performance to signify their return to form. A fierce midfielder in Mikel Arteta’s machinery.
Villains
Aaron Ramsdale had perhaps his worst game in an Arsenal shirt.
He got beaten at his near post by Jota and would think he could have done better with the second goal.
He has been a real star in this Arsenal team since joining in the summer but would look back at this game at the end of the season and tick it as one of the worst ones.
1. Aaron Ramsdale had a game to forget. Beaten at his near post and could do better for the second-4
(Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
2. Ben White had a solid game and his improvement has epitomised the teams strength- 5
Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
3. Gabriel had a solid game. Did his work safely, his ratings affected by the goals his side conceded-5.5
(Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
4. Kieran Tierney was full of running and industry even if he added little going forward-6
(Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)