Despite playing with a degree of dominance over their opponent, Arsenal suffered defeat at the Emirates due to a lack of efficiency in capitalizing on opportunities.
The spotlight of the FA Cup third round was on the clash between Arsenal and Liverpool. Both teams faced setbacks in their strength as key players were sidelined due to injuries and national team commitments. This circumstance provided an opportunity for seldom-used or out-of-form players to showcase their skills.
A lapse in defensive concentration, particularly in the absence of Virgil van Dijk, led to an early goal conceded by Arsenal’s Alisson Becker. During that time, the ball even found the Liverpool crossbar once. The away team gradually regained confidence midway through the first half and, at one point, struck the crossbar after a shot from Trent Alexander Arnold.
Wearing the Liverpool captain’s armband in this match, the player with shirt number 66 delivered consecutive free kicks with challenging trajectories in the second half. In the first instance, he created an opportunity for Diogo Jota, whose header hit the crossbar. Then, in the 80th minute, Arsenal’s Jakub Kiwior accidentally scored an own goal from another free kick.
In the closing stages of the match, the home team adopted an aggressive high-line strategy, which proved to be a risky move. From a swift counterattack, Luis Diaz skillfully controlled the ball before firing it into the roof of Aaron Ramsdale’s net. With a 2-0 victory, Liverpool secured their place in the fourth round of the FA Cup.