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AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Arsenal v Liverpool, Premier League

Arsenal took on Liverpool, with the winner set to spend the weekend on top of the table.

As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts on the game. E-mail paul@thescore.ie, tweet @thescore_iepost a message to our Facebook wall, or leave a comment below.

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Arsenal 2-0 Liverpool

Hello, and welcome to our liveblog of Arsenal v Liverpool. Here are the teams:

ARSENAL: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Ramsey, Arteta, Rosicky, Ozil, Cazorla, Giroud. Subs: Vermaelen, Monreal, Fabianski, Bendtner, Jenkinson, Akpom, Hayden.

LIVERPOOL: Mignolet, Toure, Skrtel, Sakho, Flanagan, Gerrard, Lucas, Henderson, Cissokho, Sturridge, Suarez. Subs: Brad Jones, Agger, Coutinho, Moses, Allen, Sterling, Kelly.

Sky have just informed me that it’s Arsenal’s “nervous November”.

The Gunners traditionally drop more points in November than any other month in the season.

We’re underway…

Liverpool have made a decent start to this game.

They’re hustling and harrying the home side, thereby preventing them from acquiring any rhythm in their play.

As I type, Henderson storms through on goal but scuffs his shot.

It’s been a cagey enough opening, with that aforementioned Henderson half-chance the closest the game’s come to a goal.

Both these sides certainly try to play good football, so let’s hope the game becomes a bit more open eventually.

Liverpool look very solid defensively when Arsenal are on the ball.

They had 10 men behind the ball for the Gunners’ latest attack.

GOAL FOR ARSENAL!

Arsenal 1-0 Liverpool: Sagna crosses to Cazorla, who heads it against the post, but fortunately for the Spaniard, the ball comes right back to him, and he smashes it confidently into the net (18 mins).

Advantage Arsenal!

Liverpool aren’t happy. The official penalises Sagna for a challenge on Suarez, who then plays a quick free-kick from which they score.

However, the referee doesn’t allow it as he’s not finished lecturing the Arsenal defender yet.

Here’s a video of that Cazorla goal:

YouTube credit: Rziki chanel

Arsenal go close, as Ramsey’s shot from just inside the box forces a good diving save from Mignolet, after Rosicky’s lay off.

The Gunners are having a good spell at the moment.

Sturridge and Suarez link up for the first time, as the latter plays the former through on goal.

The England striker is correctly adjudged to be narrowly offside, though his finish went wide anyway.

Seconds later, Sturridge goes down rather easily in the box amid half-hearted appeals for a Liverpool penalty. It was a good, strong initial run from the forward, but he did himself no favours with the dive ultimately.

Piers Morgan is impressed with what he sees.

It’s been a quiet last few minutes.

Arsenal, however, have been passing the ball around in their usual assured manner quite consistently.

A good passing move from Arsenal ends with Cazorla flashing a strong shot narrowly wide from just outside the box.

The hosts are well on top at this stage.

HALF-TIME: ARSENAL 1-0 LIVERPOOL

So it’s half-time and Arsenal probably deserve their slender lead.

Though Liverpool closed their opponents down impressively in the opening stages, the Gunners grew more dominant as the half developed.

They have passed the ball better than the visitors and will probably be disappointed they have yet to secure a second goal despite their clear superiority.

Bad news for Liverpool fans — according to Sky, Arsenal have won their last 20 games in which they’ve led at half-time.

The second half is underway…

Unsurprisingly, the fit-again Philippe Coutinho has come on in place of Aly Cissokho.

Meanwhile, Suarez goes through on goal but Koscielny makes an excellent recovery tackle to prevent him scoring. Seconds later, Henderson blasts a shot from a cross over the bar.

Already, Liverpool are looking far more adventurous in attack.

(Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard (top) challenges Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey – Andrew Matthews/EMPICS Sport)

Giroud has just missed an absolute sitter.

Toure’s sloppy pass is intercepted by the French striker, but his finish when one-on-one with the goalkeeper finds the wrong side of the post.

Giroud misses another opportunity as his sliding tame shot is easily saved by Mignolet.

An Arsenal goal seems inevitable at the moment, such is the intensive pressure on the visitors’ goal.

GOAL FOR ARSENAL!

Arsenal 2-0 Liverpool: Ramsey strikes an unstoppable shot from just outside the box into the top corner (59 mins).

Commentating on Sky, Gary Neville calls him the “player of the season so far,” and it’s hard to disagree.

Liverpool are looking fairly helpless at the moment.

Despite a promising start, Brendan Rodgers’ side have been largely outclassed by the Gunners.

Suarez lines up a shot on the edge of the box, but Koscieleny intercepts the ball from him at the vital moment.

The Arsenal defence, and Koscielny in particular, have marshalled the Uruguayan striker well today.

Meanwhile, Moses has replaced Flanagan, as Liverpool look to adopt a more attacking approach down the flanks.

Here’s a look at that Ramsely goal:

YouTube credit: Cristiano Ronaldo

Meanwhile, with less than 20 minutes remaining, Monreal replaces Rosicky, before Suarez’s flashes a shot off the outside of the post as Liverpool press for a goal to get them back in this game.

Arsenal pass it around as if they’re playing a training game, before Gibbs is released down the left.

His cross, however, fails to find an Arsenal body.

Vermaelen replaces Gibbs, who limps off after falling awkwardly following the aforementioned cross.

Just over 10 minutes remain.

Coutinho flashes a shot well wide.

It’s fair to say the youngster hasn’t made the desired impression since coming on.

Carl Jenkinson replaces Santi Cazorla, who walks off to loud applause.

This game is all over, and both sides look like they know it. It’s clearly petering out.

(Arsenal’s Bacary Sagna has words with Liverpool’s Luis Suarez – Sean Dempsey/PA Wire/Press Association Images)

Luis Suarez is played through on goal, but he uncharacteristically hits the ball narrowly wide.

Sturridge, who was well positioned centrally, screams at him for not passing.

Ozil’s shot is well blocked by Mignolet, as Arsenal look to add a third.

Just a few seconds left now…

FULL-TIME: ARSENAL 2-0 LIVERPOOL

Arsenal fans sing “Luis Suarez, you should have signed for a big club.” Ouch!

All in all, it was a convincing win for Arsenal. They’ve got to be considered serious title contenders now if they weren’t already.

Liverpool, meanwhile, don’t appear to be quite ready to challenge yet, if tonight’s game is anything to go by.

Right, that’s all from me. Thanks for reading and commenting.

Until next time…

Premier League wrap: United stroll, City run riot, Chelsea crash>

Van Persie blows roof off Craven Cottage as United consolidate 8th spot>

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