Arsenal go five points clear with win over Liverpool

Arsenal put in one of their best performances all season as they beat an inform Liverpool side 2-0 at the Emirates on Saturday. Two brilliant goals, one from Cazorla and one from Ramsey sealed what ended up as a comfortable win. With Chelsea having lost earlier it meant the Gunners went five points clear at the top of the Premier League. In terms of the Arsenal line-up there was one change as Rosicky replaced Flamini. Due to the extent of injuries we have, Chuba Akpom and Isaac Hayden were given places on the bench. Both have featured this season but didn't get a run out on this occasion as 3 defensive subs were made late on in order to preserve the lead.

Cazorla, Giroud and Gibbs celebrate Ramsey's goal and another Arsenal victory

Arsenal hadn't really played a supposed top team in the League up to now so this win proved their critics wrong and perhaps suggested that they were ready to challenge for the title. Every time Arsenal have lost this season we've bounced back with a win, a real test of the squad's character and shows how much of a tight knit group these bunch of players are. Having lost to Chelsea in the week, it was a real confidence boosting result with Dortmund in the week and Man United next weekend to come.

Arsenal dominated large periods of the game and the display was similar to that of the one against Napoli a few weeks back. Santi Cazorla's goal came at a timely moment. Arteta who had a brilliant game sent Sagna off down the right. His cross found Cazorla who headed the ball against the post and then finished the rebound off with a well controlled volley. Our second came from the man who has been a class apart from everyone else in the Premier League this season. Aaron Ramsey took one touch to set himself and then unleash an unstoppable effort into the back of the net for his tenth of the season. An incredible feat for someone who started last season in such poor form.

Despite the scorers putting in assured performances, Mikel Arteta put in a man of the match display. With Flamini missing again through injury the skipper took it upon himself to do what the Frenchman had done so well this season. His distribution of the ball and his ability to dictate the tempo of the game was excellent. He set up most of the attacks and lead a brilliant display of one or two touch passing which brought Arsenal so much time and space on the ball. Arteta's partnership with Aaron Ramsey was a formidable one and once again showed the array of midfield talent and the amount of options Wenger has in that department. 

The defence was also hugely encouraging. Criticised for being somewhat shaky at times they put in a hugely disciplined performance. Mertesacker and Koscielny made light work of the supposed best strike force in the League in Sturridge and Suarez as they looked miles from their best. Bacary Sagna, on his 250th appearance for the club put in a good performance and once more showed why he warrants a new contract.

Arsenal's win over Liverpool was extra impressive if you look at the long list of players still out injured. Missing yesterday was Wilshere, Flamini, Gnabry, Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Diaby, Podolski and Sanogo. A quite extraordinary run of bad luck in terms of injuries which means that surely we'll only get stronger when we have some of those players back. When Walcott is back a man that should benefit hugely from it is Mesut Ozil. Against Sunderland in Ozil's first game he slipped in Walcott on a few occasions so that's something to look forward to in the future.

A very good start to a potentially tricky week for Arsenal which should bring them huge confidence going to Germany in the week to play Dortmund, and then the current holders of the Premier League in Manchester United next weekend. One things for certain though, going into the next international break, the Gunners will be on top of the league.

The teams lineups:

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs(78), Arteta, Ramsey, Rosicky(72), Ozil, Cazorla(84), Giroud.
Subs: Fabianski, Vermaelen(78), Jenkinson(84), Monreal(72), Hayden, Akpom, Bendtner.

Liverpool: Mignolet, Toure, Skrtel, Sakho, Flanagan(68), Gerrard, Lucas, Henderson, Cissokho(45), Sturridge, Suarez.
Subs: Jones, Agger, Kelly, Allen, Coutinho(45), Moses(68), Sterling.

My man of the match: Mikel Arteta.

Referee: Martin Atkinson.
Attendance: 60,042.