Four sensational goals saw Arsenal trounce Liverpool 4-1 at the Emirates on Saturday afternoon. The Gunners struck three times in the last eight minutes of the first-half through Hector Bellerín’s gorgeous solo goal, Mesut Özil’s sumptuous free-kick and then Alexis Sanchez’ scorching half-volley right on the stroke of half time.
Jordan Henderson pulled one back from the spot with fifteen minutes to go, but Olivier Giroud would net a stinging drive in stoppage time to round off a comprehensive win for the hosts. The result sees Arsene Wenger’s men move up to second, with Manchester City to play Crystal Palace on Monday evening.
Bellerín proves what regular first-team football can do
The meteoric rise of Hector Bellerín this season has been incredible, and he has regular first-team football to thank for his rapid development. The 20-year-old is still raw, but has been brilliant at right-back for Arsene Wenger’s men for most of the season. Although he conceded a penalty for a rash challenge on Raheem Sterling, he also scored a wonderful solo goal late in the first-half to open the scoring and set the Gunners on their way. The boy has vast potential, and Mathieu Debuchy faces a serious challenge in ousting Bellerín out from the starting line-up.
Sterling’s decision to reportedly want a move away from Anfield was justified
Liverpool wing sensation Raheem Sterling has faced the wrath of Liverpool fans all week, wanting him dropped for the match at the Emirates after admitting that the Gunners interest in him was ‘flattering’. The 20-year-old so nearly gave the Reds the lead, but Lazar Marković over-hit his pass and Sterling was unable to latch onto it and prod it home into an almost empty net. Sterling looked liked the man who could muster something for Liverpool, and won a penalty with fifteen minutes left after he was scythed down by Bellerín after a lovely little run. Liverpool looked short of quality all around the pitch with the exceptions of Sterling and Countinho. Were he to join the Gunners, game time probably would not be as easy to come by, and if the young star’s claims of moving in the search of silverware are true, then seeking a move to London, Manchester or even Madrid would be wise.
Alexis and Özil CAN play together
There has been widespread criticism recently that Arsenal’s two most expensive signings, Sanchez and Özil, cannot play together. However, for 70 minutes at the Emirates on Saturday the two stars proved that they can work in tandem, and the results were devastating. Özil’s innate ability to create and find space allowed Alexis to flourish, and the Chilean thrived, and scored a net-busting half volley on the stroke of half time to effectively kill the game off. Özil was quiet at times but was masterful at others, and scored a beautifully-executed free kick to put the Gunners 2-0 up. Alexis’ ability to drive at defenders, paired with the Germans’ ability to find him, is a sight to behold when the two stars click.
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The Martin Skrtel-shaped hole in Liverpool was evident
Liverpool defensive stalwart Martin Skrtel’s three-match ban could not have come at a worse time for Brendan Rodger’s men. Kolo Toure was unable to fill the void left by the Slovakian, and was quite frankly awful in the opening 20 minutes. Toure was not the only one who was poor though, Skrtel’s usual defensive right-hand man Mamadou Sahko was rather sloppy, and rampaging full-back Alberto Moreno let fellow Spaniard Bellerín waltz past him far too easily for Arsenal’s opening goal on 37 minutes. It became blindingly obvious how crucial Martin Skrtel is to Liverpool’s defence on Saturday, and without him Brendan Rodger’s backline look worryingly short of resources. Skrtel is arguably Liverpool’s most important player, the crushing defeat the Emirates proved that.
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