Arsenal are back in the Premier League title race after earning a massive 3-1 win against Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday (4 February).
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher was critical about Arsenal’s celebration after the game but he spoke highly of the Gunners’ defensive shape under Mikel Arteta on Monday Night Football.
Carragher also showered praise on Gabriel Martinelli who scored a freakish goal that pulled the game in Arsenal’s favour.
In the 67th minute, Gabriel played out of a hopeful long ball for Martinelli. It should have been dealt out easily but a calamitous error from Virgil van Dijk and Alisson left Martinelli unmarked, and the Brazilian pushed the ball into the open net to make it 2-1.
“Listen, it is a hopeful ball from Gabriel but it is a hopeful ball he probably would not have been able to play at any other time in the game because Arsenal did not have the centre-forward running in behind,” said Carragher, as quoted by Sky Sports.
“Yes, Liverpool should have dealt with it. But I was impressed with Martinelli because he used his own intuition. Sometimes, on the pitch as a player, you have to move off your own player and try to cause problems.”
Massive win
Martinelli was superb during the game. In the first half, the 22-year-old created loads of problems and gave trouble to Trent Alexander-Arnold.
It was a must-win game for the Gunners, as another defeat would have been a huge blow for them in the title race. The victory will give them a massive lift as they have now reduced Liverpool’s lead at the top to two points only.
Arsenal made a lightning start with Bukayo Saka giving them the lead in the 14th minute. Any chance of Liverpool’s revival was put to bed when Leandro Trossard scored in the stoppage time, thanks to another mistake from Alisson.
