Report: Arsenal 4-1 Liverpool (inc goals)

Arsenal: Ospina, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Cazorla, Ramsey, Ozil, Alexis, Giroud

Subs: Macey, Gibbs, Gabriel, Flamini, Rosicky, Walcott, Welbeck

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Arsenal scored three goals in 8 first half minutes, as well as a late cracker from Olivier Giroud to secure a 4-1 win against Liverpool at the Emirates today.

There were returns for Santi Cazorla and Mesut Ozil but no place on the bench for Wojciech Szczesny who missed the game through a rib injury, meaning youngster Matt Macey was called on to provide cover for Ospina.

Arsenal had the first chance of the game after 30 seconds, Alexis dragging a shot wide, followed not long afterwards by a Cazorla effort which Simon Mignolet got down well to save.

There was an even more clear cut chance for Aaron Ramsey in the 5tgh minute when he found himself clean through – he chose to shoot from close range but his left-footed effort was weak and the follow up was cleared just as Cazorla was about to put the ball into an empty net.

It was a bright start from the home side but even as the game settled down a bit from its frantic opening, most of the possession and pressure was with Arsenal. The visitors did grow into things and fluffed a superb chance to open the scoring.

Markovic got in behind the Arsenal defence with just Ospina to beat. Instead of shooting he decided to play it across goal to Sterlin for a tap-in but the ball was just too heavy and the chance went begging.

Liverpool’s growing confidence saw Coutinho shoot not far wide with Ospina on the stretch, and when Cazorla gave the ball away Sterling’s first time shot ended up the right side of the post from an Arsenal point of view.

Sterling almost found Jordan Henderson after the midfielder’s run found him with just the keeper to beat but the cross was too heavy. It looked as if they were most likely to score but in the 36th minute Arsenal took the lead.

The move started with a brilliant Ozil pass to Ramsey down the right, the Welshman played it inside Bellerin who drove into the box, stepped inside a challenge and curled it into the bottom corner with his left foot. 1-0.

Less than two minutes later the lead was doubled. Ozil was flattened by Sakho just outside the area, and Anthonty Taylor had no hesitation in awarding the free kick. The German stepped up and curled the ball into the corner of the goal that the keeper should have been protecting. 2-0.

It got even better just before the break when we extended the lead further.  Bellerin fizzed a ball into Ramsey, the first touch was superb as he turned away from his opponent and played in Alexis. The Chilean stepped inside the defender, and lashed an unstoppable shot past Mignolet to make it 3-0 with his 20th goal of the season.

It was an astonishing final 10 minutes to the half with three goals of the highest quality, one which prompted Liverpool into a half-time change bringing on Daniel Sturridge for Markovic.

There was an early second half change for Arsenal too, Gabriel replacing Koscielny in the 50th minute due to a groin problem. Giroud had the first shot of the second period, drilled straight at the keeper after sensational build-up play between Ramsey and Cazorla.

Liverpool had Mignolet to thank for keeping the score at 3-0 with a great save to deny Giroud in the 55th minute. Arsenal worked the ball down the right, Ozil’s cross was headed towards goal but the keeper got a good hand on it.

At the other end Ospina had to be smart to keep out a Can shot at his near post, before another Arsenal change, this time Flamini replacing Ramsey on 61 minutes.  Coutinho shot wide as the Gunners sat off, not needing to over-commit and looking to catch them on the break.

Emre Can shot over the bar as Liverpool struggled to make use of the possession they had, prompting Arsene Wenger to make his final change as Danny Welbeck replaced Ozil in the 74th minute.

A rash challenge from Hector Bellerin handed Liverpool a lifeline when he brought down Sterling in the area. Although Ospina got a hand on it, Henderson’s penalty crept into the bottom corner to make it 3-1.

Mignolet saved from Welbeck before the England international was fouled by Can, resulting in a second yellow card for the Liverpool man. Emre Can’t, am I right?!

Giroud was denied a volley by Toure; Cazorla hit the post after fine build-up play involving Alexis, Welbeck and Monreal; but the icing on the cake came from Olivier Giroud in the second minute of injury time.

Alexis fed the Frenchman down the inside right channel, he had support from Welbeck and Cazorla, but he stepped inside and lashed the ball into the net to make it 4-1. It was no less than he deserved and capped a fine display from Arsenal which sees them 9 points clear of Brendan Rodgers side in the race for the Champions League places.