REPORT
By Chris Harris
WHAT HAPPENED
Our winning start to the season is over after Liverpool fought back to beat us at Anfield.
A bizarre goal from Alex Lacazette saw us lead the champions and lay the foundations for a memorable result. But our advantage lasted just two minutes as Sadio Mane and Andy Robertson struck to turn the tide in Liverpool's favour.
Diogo Jota then put the game to bed moments before full time with a crisp finish into the bottom left-hand corner.
We matched Jurgen Klopp's team during a feisty start to the game.
Mane clattered Hector Bellerin in the opening seconds and then struck Kieran Tierney in the face. Arsenal fans hoped for a red card; Mane got a yellow.
The champions slowly got on top. Rob Holding, David Luiz and Granit Xhaka made vital interventions. Bernd Leno saved from Mane and then watched a fizzing half-volley from Trent Alexander-Arnold deflect off Bellerin and hit the crossbar. Holding headed away and we survived.
Then, against the run of play, we struck in strange fashion.
It all started slickly enough, a fast break and a good ball from Lacazette into Ainsley Maitland-Niles. His cross was a disappointment but Robertson completely miscued his clearance and the ball dropped for Lacazette. He scuffed his shot into the ground but the ball bounced in over Allison with the goalkeeper already committed to a dive.
Our joy was short-lived. The "quick waves" of Liverpool attacks got quicker, and they turned the game around within nine minutes.
Mo Salah set up the first, speeding onto Roberto Firmino's ball inside Tierney and scurrying past his marker to get away a shot. Leno parried and Mane tucked in the rebound.
Liverpool's second goal originated from the right as well. This time Alexander-Arnold clipped in a cross and Robertson ghosted in to chest down and flick the ball past Leno.
We regrouped and competed better after the break.
Holding impressed with a number of vital blocks, and at the other end Dani Ceballos slid a perfect ball through to Lacazette, only for Allison to charge out and block the shot.
But Liverpool had plenty of chances too, substitute Jota missing arguably the best of them on his debut. The Portuguese wasn't to be deprived of a goal though. He struck with just two minutes of normal time to play to settle the contest.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Get the full story of our Monday night game at Anfield with our play-by-play updates
WHAT IT MEANS
TEAM NEWS
Tierney was the most notable of six changes to Mikel Arteta's starting line-up. Back from a minor groin problem, Tierney took Sead Kolasinac's place in our back three.
Bellerin, Xhaka, Willian, Lacazette and captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang also returned.
Mo Elneny kept his place in midfield as Arteta went for a similar team to the one that beat Liverpool in the Community Shield. There were only three changes from that Wembley line-up - Leno, Willian and Lacazette.
WHAT'S NEXT
We're back at Anfield on Thursday for yet another clash with Liverpool - our third meeting in six games this season.
This time it's the fourth round of the Carabao Cup. Last season we met Liverpool at the same stage, drawing 5-5 before losing on penalties.
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