Match ends, Arsenal 0, Liverpool 2.
Liverpool struck twice late on to beat Arsenal at Emirates Stadium and reach the FA Cup fourth round.
Arsenal paid the price for missing a host of opportunities and were punished as Liverpool grew increasingly dangerous, the deadlock broken when Trent Alexander-Arnold's free-kick glanced in off Jakub Kiwior's head with seven minutes left.
Liverpool's triumph was completed in the closing seconds as a lethal break ended with Luis Diaz firing an emphatic finish high past Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.
Mikel Arteta's side dominated the first half, with Martin Odegaard hitting the bar while Reiss Nelson and Kai Havertz also had chances to give Arsenal reward for their pressure.
Liverpool, despite missing captain Virgil van Dijk through illness and with Mohamed Salah at the Africa Cup of Nations, held firm and were always a threat. Alexander-Arnold hit the bar in the first half and as they grew into the game, Ramsdale saved well from Diaz and Diogo Jota headed against the woodwork.
Just as the replay that neither Arsenal nor Liverpool would have particularly wanted loomed, the unfortunate Kiowor headed past Ramsdale then Diaz ensured Jurgen Klopp's side would progress to the fourth round.
- 'Arsenal flaws exposed - and must be urgently addressed'
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Arsenal lack cutting edge
Arsenal could and should have held a healthy advantage when this FA Cup tie reached half-time but they were let down by what is looking increasingly like a major flaw in Arteta's team.
The Gunners' approach work was to be admired as they made Liverpool suffer by moving the ball around but it all fell down at the crucial moment when chances were not taken.
It led to increasing frustration inside the Emirates as the game wore on, accompanied by the growing feeling that Arsenal would pay the price for their failures in front of goal.
Gabriel Jesus was missing with a knee injury but he is not a regular, reliable source of goals while Eddie Nketiah has yet to suggest he is the permanent answer to a growing problem for Arteta.
So much is good about this Arsenal team but there is always the danger they will fall short if all their eye-catching passing play is not accompanied by end product.
It is something Arteta must address as a matter of urgency - something the manager and the club may well agree with given the constant links with Brentford's Ivan Toney. Whether they can do business in the difficult January market remains to be seen.
This is Arsenal's third successive defeat since their creditable draw at Anfield on 23 December - and the feeling of positivity around Arteta's team after that result must be restored swiftly.
Liverpool make light of missing superstars
Liverpool were missing two of their best players in the meeting of the Premier League title challengers in this FA Cup tie - but they impressively overcame the absence of the ill Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, who is at the Africa Cup of Nations.
They were grateful for Arsenal's poor finishing in the first half but Klopp's side were always in the game and, even without Salah, they possess menace in their forward line and that was increasingly in evidence as the game went on.
Ibrahima Konate in particular stood out - proving he can produce commanding performances even without Van Dijk alongside him - while young defender Jarell Quansah continues to impress in the absence of Joel Matip.
Nunez was again inefficient with his efforts at goal but Jota was lively as he continues his return from injury.
Overall, finding a way to win without Van Dijk and Salah will send a surge of self-belief through Liverpool and their supporters that Klopp's new-look side can go on to achieve special things this season.
Liverpool lead the Premier League, play an EFL Cup semi-final against Fulham on Wednesday, are into the knockout stage of the Europa League and can now look forward to the FA Cup fourth-round draw with optimism.
Player of the match
Diogo JotaDiogo Jota
Arsenal
Avg
- Squad number1Player nameRamsdaleAverage rating
6.08
- Squad number2Player nameSalibaAverage rating
5.39
- Squad number8Player nameØdegaardAverage rating
5.36
- Squad number41Player nameRiceAverage rating
5.29
- Squad number4Player nameWhiteAverage rating
5.03
- Squad number6Player nameGabriel MagalhãesAverage rating
5.01
- Squad number7Player nameSakaAverage rating
4.92
- Squad number11Player nameGabriel MartinelliAverage rating
4.74
- Squad number20Player nameJorginhoAverage rating
4.72
- Squad number24Player nameNelsonAverage rating
4.68
- Squad number15Player nameKiwiorAverage rating
4.59
- Squad number29Player nameHavertzAverage rating
4.32
- Squad number10Player nameSmith RoweAverage rating
4.09
- Squad number19Player nameTrossardAverage rating
3.75
- Squad number14Player nameNketiahAverage rating
3.68
Liverpool
Avg
- Squad number20Player nameDiogo JotaAverage rating
7.99
- Squad number84Player nameBradleyAverage rating
7.91
- Squad number5Player nameKonatéAverage rating
7.54
- Squad number38Player nameGravenberchAverage rating
7.50
- Squad number42Player nameClarkAverage rating
7.49
- Squad number1Player nameAlissonAverage rating
7.32
- Squad number7Player nameDíazAverage rating
7.23
- Squad number2Player nameGomezAverage rating
6.93
- Squad number78Player nameQuansahAverage rating
6.88
- Squad number17Player nameJonesAverage rating
6.73
- Squad number19Player nameElliottAverage rating
6.72
- Squad number9Player nameNúñezAverage rating
6.71
- Squad number10Player nameMac AllisterAverage rating
6.58
- Squad number18Player nameGakpoAverage rating
6.52
- Squad number66Player nameAlexander-ArnoldAverage rating
5.48
Line-ups
Arsenal
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Ramsdale
- 4White
- 2SalibaBooked at 65mins
- 6Gabriel
- 15KiwiorSubstituted forTrossardat 88'minutes
- 8Ødegaard
- 41Rice
- 20JorginhoSubstituted forNketiahat 81'minutes
- 7Saka
- 29HavertzSubstituted forSmith Roweat 88'minutes
- 24NelsonSubstituted forMartinelliat 62'minutes
Substitutes
- 10Smith Rowe
- 11Martinelli
- 14Nketiah
- 17Cédric Soares
- 19Trossard
- 22Raya
- 63Nwaneri
- 72Sousa
- 76Walters
Liverpool
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Alisson
- 66Alexander-ArnoldBooked at 90mins
- 5Konaté
- 78Quansah
- 2Gomez
- 19ElliottBooked at 70minsSubstituted forBradleyat 75'minutes
- 10Mac AllisterSubstituted forGravenberchat 59'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 17JonesSubstituted forClarkat 75'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 18GakpoSubstituted forJotaat 59'minutes
- 9Núñez
- 7Díaz
Substitutes
- 20Jota
- 38Gravenberch
- 42Clark
- 44Chambers
- 49Gordon
- 53McConnell
- 62Kelleher
- 84Bradley
- 98Nyoni
- Referee:
- John Brooks
- Attendance:
- 58,538
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home54%
- Away46%
- Shots
- Home18
- Away12
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away3
- Corners
- Home5
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away15
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Arsenal 0, Liverpool 2.
Goal!
Goal! Arsenal 0, Liverpool 2. Luis Díaz (Liverpool) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Diogo Jota following a fast break.
Booking
Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Leandro Trossard (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool).
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Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Conor Bradley.
Booking
Bobby Clark (Liverpool) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Declan Rice (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Bobby Clark (Liverpool).
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Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Darwin Núñez.
Booking
Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool).
Substitution
Substitution, Arsenal. Leandro Trossard replaces Jakub Kiwior.
Substitution
Substitution, Arsenal. Emile Smith Rowe replaces Kai Havertz.
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Foul by William Saliba (Arsenal).
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Diogo Jota (Liverpool) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Kai Havertz (Arsenal) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Martin Ødegaard with a cross.
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Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Comments
Join the conversation
Elliot complains once, yellow card
Baffling?
This game will go down as the definition of "smash and grab", Arsenal have only themselves to blame, they should've been two or three up at halftime and had the game put to bed. Just goes to show the difference in mentality, Liverpool have it and Arsenal don't.
Is that written down somewhere?
That's probably Arsenal's seaon over already 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
3 losses in a row for the bottling Goonies
Got it Got it don't Got it!
What a shame couldn't happen to a nicer bunch!
Away from home & Liverpool didn't even need their best players in attack and defence.
What a disgrace. Won it with the kids from 0-0. Good that this bottling was on bbc for all to see. Lovely jubbly.