Arsenal woes continue as Liverpool late show dumps them out of FA Cup
Jakub Kiwior’s own goal 10 minutes from the end was followed by Luis Diaz’s strike in injury time, as Liverpool secured a 2-0 victory over Arsenal in the FA Cup, sending them crashing out of the tournament. Jurgen Klopp’s side, despite missing key players like Virgil van Dijk and Mohamad Salah, managed to ride their luck and capitalize on their chances to claim the win.
The match between the two Premier League rivals, who chose not to wear red in support of Arsenal’s anti-knife crime initiative, was a highly anticipated clash. The teams had played out a 1-1 draw at Anfield just two weeks ago, and both managers fielded strong line-ups with some minor changes.
Right from the start, Arsenal displayed attacking intent, with Reiss Nelson missing a golden opportunity to open the scoring. Eddie Nketiah was dropped, and Kai Havertz led the line for the Gunners, creating chances and testing Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson early on. Martin Odegaard came close to breaking the deadlock but saw his effort crash against the crossbar.
Liverpool gradually grew into the game, with chances of their own through Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones, but were unable to find the net before halftime. The second half saw both teams continuing to create opportunities, with Alisson making crucial saves to deny Arsenal. The Gunners’ frustrations grew as Liverpool introduced fresh legs in Diogo Jota and Ryan Gravenberch.
The breakthrough came in the 80th minute when Trent Alexander-Arnold delivered a superb cross that resulted in an unfortunate own goal by Arsenal’s Jakub Kiwior. Arsenal desperately pushed for an equalizer, but it was Liverpool who sealed the victory in the dying moments of the match. Luis Diaz capitalized on a swift counter-attack, smashing the ball into the back of the net in injury time.
This defeat marks Arsenal’s fourth loss in seven matches, highlighting the challenges facing manager Mikel Arteta as he looks to improve his team’s form. Despite creating numerous chances, the Gunners were unable to find the back of the net once again, leaving Arteta with plenty to ponder during their mid-season break.
Liverpool, on the other hand, will take confidence from their hard-fought victory and their ability to grind out results even without some key players. Jurgen Klopp’s side continues to battle on multiple fronts, maintaining their strong pursuit across various competitions.
Overall, the match showcased Liverpool’s resilience and ability to capitalize on their opportunities, while Arsenal’s lackluster finishing condemned them to yet another frustrating defeat.
