Bukayo Saka added a brace to Gabriel Martinelli’s early strike as Arsenal overcame Liverpool in a topsy-turvy affair in north London.
Arsenal returned to the top of the Premier League as Bukayo Saka’s 76th-minute penalty sealed a pulsating 3-2 win over Liverpool on Sunday.
Mikel Arteta’s side usurped Manchester City at the summit on Saturday, but an eighth win in nine top-flight games this season helped them claim top spot.
The Gunners took the lead after just 58 seconds when Gabriel Martinelli snuck in behind Trent Alexander-Arnold and looped past Alisson, although Liverpool equalized through Darwin Nunez 11 minutes before half-time.
Saka restored Arsenal’s lead just before the break and the England international headed home from the spot after Roberto Firmino equalized for Jurgen Klopp’s side for the second time early in the second half.
Arsenal went ahead within a minute of kick-off when Martinelli slotted past Alisson for his fourth league goal of the season after Martin Odegaard’s wonderful pass slipped past him.
Ramsdale denied Nunez shortly after midway through the first half, but the Arsenal goalkeeper could do little to stop the Uruguayan pulling away for Liverpool in the 34th minute when he prodded Luis Diaz’s cross down the right wing from close range.
However, Arsenal restored their advantage deep into first-half stoppage time when Saka crept in at the back post to deflect Martinelli’s cross.
Liverpool pegged their hosts back again eight minutes after the break when Firmino, who replaced the injured Diaz in the first half, latched onto Diogo Jota’s pass and fired past Ramsdale into the bottom right corner.
Arsenal went ahead for the third – and final – in the 75th minute thanks to Saka’s successful clearance after Gabriel Jesus had been fouled by Thiago Alcantara.
