At half time, the Liverpool fans struck up with a hopeful chorus of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’, as they once did in Istanbul on another occasion when they were 3-0 down at half time. This time though it felt more like a lament for lost opportunities.
For this was no Istanbul and Champions League victories and even qualification for the tournament seem an awful long way off after this crushing defeat.
It is Arsenal who are the team of the moment. And in Mesut Ozil they have one of the most sublime performers; at least they do when he when he plays like this.
Mesut Ozil is congratulated by his team-mates after his magnificent free-kick on the half hour mark put Arsenal fully in control of the game
Alexis Sanchez celebrates with Olivier Giroud after his stunning strike from just outside the penalty area made it 3-0 to Arsenal in the first half
Jordan Henderson pulled one back for Liverpool from the penalty spot after Bellerin brought down Raheem Sterling inside the area
But Olivier Giroud ended any hopes of a Liverpool comeback by smashing in a fantastic fourth for Arsenal in stoppage time
PLAYER RATINGS BY MATT BARLOW, PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE AND MATCH ZONE
Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Ospina 6.5; Bellerin 6.5, Mertesacker 6.5, Koscielny 6 (Gabriel 49mins, 6.5), Monreal 7; Coquelin 7, Cazorla 6.5; Ramsey 7 (Flamini 62, 6.5), Sanchez 7, Ozil 7.5 (Welbeck 73, 7.5); Giroud 7.
Unused subs: Gibbs, Macey, Rosicky, Walcott, Welbeck.
Booked: Bellerin.
Manager: Arsene Wenger 7.
Liverpool (3-4-2-1): Mignolet 5.5; Can 5, Toure 4.5, Sakho 5; Henderson 6, Allen 5.5, Lucas 5.5, Moreno 5.5; Markovic 5 (Sturridge 46, 6), Coutinho 5; Sterling 6.
Unused subs: Borini, Brannagan, Johnson, Jones, Lovren, Manquillo.
Booked: Can.
Sent off: Can.
Manager: Brendan Rodgers 6.
Referee: Chris Foy 6.5.
Attendance: 60,081.
Man of the Match: Mesut Ozil.
Aaron Ramsey teed up Alexis Sanchez for Arsenal's third goal. See more in MatchZone.
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