Arsenal missed many opportunities and paid the price when they lost 0-2 to Liverpool in the third round of the FA Cup on January 7.
Arsenal pressed Liverpool all game and created clear scoring opportunities, but could not score. Liverpool, missing many key players, had to play defensively and wait for opportunities from counter-attacks and set pieces. Jurgen Klopp's students scored two goals at the end of the match from such moves, causing Arsenal to suffer for the fourth time in the last five matches at the Emirates.
Liverpool players celebrate Luis Diaz's winning goal at Emirates Stadium in London, England on January 7. Photo: Reuters
Arsenal failed when they had all the advantages over their opponents, from home field, force to motivation. Liverpool lost key players in all three lines due to national duty and injury, including striker Mohamed Salah, midfielder Wataru Endo and centre-back Virgil Van Dijk. Klopp and his team also found it difficult to focus on the third round of the FA Cup, when ahead is the League Cup semi-final against Fulham.
In that context, the visitors were soon overwhelmed by the home team's stormy attack. Arsenal rushed forward early and almost opened the scoring in the 12th minute, when Martin Odegaard hit the crossbar in an open position. In the first half, Mikel Arteta's students created many other storms, but Reiss Nelson, Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Ben White all missed. Despite being pressured, Liverpool still managed to leave a warning to their opponents when Trent Alexander-Arnold hit the crossbar at the end of the half.
Nelson (white) could not score despite dribbling past goalkeeper Alisson. Photo: Reuters
The second half saw both sides go back and forth. Arsenal continued to create problems with Gabriel Martinelli, but Liverpool gradually created clear chances on the counter-attack. After Darwin Nunez's shot went just wide of the goal, Diogo Jota's header hit the crossbar.
Just two minutes after Jota missed, Liverpool took the lead. Alexander-Arnold's free kick in the 81st minute was headed into his own net by Jakub Kiwior. Arsenal went all out in the remaining 10 minutes. Not only were they unable to equalise, the home side conceded a second goal when Diaz fired past Aaron Ramsdale in the final minute of stoppage time.
Arsenal ended 2023 with two consecutive defeats, then started 2024 with another defeat. The season is getting more and more difficult for Arteta's team, as they were eliminated from the FA Cup and gradually fell behind in the Premier League, five points behind Liverpool. For the fourth year in a row, Arsenal have been eliminated early in the prestigious domestic cup arena.
For Liverpool, the chance of a quadruple is still intact as they have passed the third round of the FA Cup, reached the semi-finals of the League Cup, maintained their position at the top of the Premier League table and entered the knockout stages of the Europa League.
Line-up
Arsenal: Ramsdale, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior (Smith Rowe 88), Rice, Jorginho (Nketiah 81), Odegaard, Saka, Nelson (Martinelli 62), Havertz (Trossard 88)
Liverpool: Alisson, Gomez, Konate, Trent, Quansah, Mac Allister (Graveberch 59'), Jones (Clark 76), Gakpo (Jota 59), Elliot (Bradley 76), Diaz, Nunez.
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