The significance of Liverpool’s recent victory might not resonate fully until the end of the season, particularly in the Premier League title contention rather than the FA Cup. This win, akin to Arsenal’s previous eliminations by their closest rivals, suggests a potential impact on the title race.
For the second consecutive season, Arsenal’s elimination from the competition came at the hands of their immediate rivals. In the last campaign, Manchester City ousted them in the fourth round, and this time, a depleted Liverpool repeated the feat.
The aftermath at Arsenal will likely involve introspection and frustration regarding their inefficient attacking play. Kai Havertz, once a promising center-forward, squandered numerous chances. Although Liverpool’s performance lacked ruthlessness, they managed to progress, capitalizing on an own goal that broke the stalemate, showcasing both teams’ struggles.
In the dying moments of the match, Luis Diaz sealed the victory for Liverpool, countering and capitalizing on a pass from Diogo Jota. The final whistle was met with murmurs of discontent from Arsenal fans, attributing the loss mainly to their team’s lack of a lethal finisher.
While Arsenal carried the bulk of the blame, even with former striker Ian Wright expressing frustration about their need for a decisive scorer, Liverpool’s missed chances and goal posts struck twice highlighted their own shortcomings.
Nevertheless, Liverpool emerged triumphant despite the absence of key players like Mohamed Salah and the injured Virgil Van Dijk. Trent Alexander-Arnold, wearing the captain’s armband, delivered an outstanding performance, adding to Arsenal’s dismal run of only one victory in seven matches across various competitions.