Arsenal player ratings vs Liverpool: Jota & Firmino seal 2-0 win

Arsenal suffered just their second defeat in 12 matches as second half goals from Jota and Roberto Firmino secured Liverpool a 2-0 Premier League win at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.

Mikel Arteta is taking his team through one of their most grueling weeks of the season as they contest three matches inside six days, with the first of those ending in a 2-0 win over Leicester last Sunday.

Despite hope that Takehiro Tomiyasu could return from injury he wasn’t available to start this match, with Cedric Soares keeping his place at right-back.

The only other area of interest was on the left wing, with Gabriel Martinelli chosen to keep his place ahead of top scorer Emile Smith Rowe

Arsenal player ratings as Jota and Firmino keep Liverpool’s Premier League title hopes alive with a 2-0 win at the Emirates Stadium

It was a first half where both teams almost cancelled each other out, as the Gunners’ excellent defensive shape and aggression limited Liverpool in wide areas.

As for Arsenal, the got into some promising positions where just the final ball was lacking, as they utilised space excellently in behind the Reds’ full-backs.

Odegaard missed a glorious chance shortly after the break and, just when Arsenal were at their most threatening, the suckerpunch came as Jota was threaded through on goal and his shot beat Ramsdale at the near post.

And then there was the clincher. Robertson closed down a clearance before surging towards the box, where he fed Firmino to tap in for a quick second goal. Martinelli nearly reduced the arrears late, a goal his performance would have deserved, but the game would finish 2-0.

All on Saturday.

Goalkeeper & Defenders

Aaron Ramsdale (GK) – 6/10 – He has to be saving those. With that angle and at his near post, there is no denying that. That moment appeared to unsettle him and he’ll be more disappointed than most to have let it squirm in.

Cedric Soares (RB) – 6/10 – Some of his footwork in tight spaces to wriggle out of challenges was a welcome pressure valve as the Reds’ wingers closed in. A clean game technically for Cedric who defended his side well barring switching off for the first and second goals.

Benjamin White (CB) – 6/10 – What was crucial for the central defenders in this game was to be aggressive, but smart, in their duels. Getting a foot as soon as the ball was played into the forwards was key and White did that for large spells, with his positioning and decision making for the second goal putting a dampener on this display.

Gabriel (CB) – 7/10 – The bulk of the build-up went through White, as usual, with Gabriel needing to keep things ticking over in the left to Tierney, Xhaka and Partey.

When the team had to sit deep he defended his zones very well. Well-timed standing tackles and proactivity for most of the game.

Kieran Tierney (LB) – 7/10 – The thought of coming up against a combination of Sadio Mane and Luis Diaz, who kept swapping sides, is daunting for anyone. For Tierney to have covered so much ground in defensive transitions and go toe-to-toe with those speed merchants was highly commendable. Let little go down his side.

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