In their final Premier League game of 2018, Arsenal collapsed like only Arsenal could at Anfield.
It was thought that Unai Emery’s appointment would improve the soft exterior that Arsenal have gone on to display in big matches over the previous few years but Liverpool proved otherwise with a 5-1 thrashing to extend their lead to 9 points at the top.
The Gunners surprisingly took the lead against a Liverpool side that had conceded only seven goals in the Premier League all season. Ainsley Maitland-Niles’ opener was as good as it got for Emery’s men as Jurgen Klopp’s team swept the visitors away in the remaining half hour of the first period. Roberto Firmino was back to his belligerent best, scoring twice in two minutes to put the Reds 2-1 up.
Sadio Mane and Mohammed Salah also got into the act as Liverpool ended the first half 4-1 up. It didn’t get much better for Arsenal in the second half as Liverpool earned their second penalty of the match with Firmino dispatching it for his third.
With this, Liverpool are now nine points clear at the top of the table while Arsenal remain fifth with 38 points.
Twitter was filled with jibes at Arsenal after another big defeat to a top side.
— Nooruddean (@BeardedGenius) December 29, 2018
Arsenal conceded as many PL goals today as Liverpool did in October, November and December combined
— Duncan Alexander (@oilysailor) December 29, 2018
How would you describe Arsenal? pic.twitter.com/KO87Ury5VO
— Stantön 🏴☠️ (@StantonThe3rd) December 29, 2018
Liverpool after Arsenal scored first yesterday.., #LIVARS pic.twitter.com/zTXuMuScUo
— Saravanan (@SaravanElango) December 30, 2018
Liverpool vs Arsenal… " pic.twitter.com/mNgAmGX1MF
— MBProfit (@ProfitMb) December 29, 2018
YNWA❤️ pic.twitter.com/cTBarzhmst
— shankar sampingiraj (@appushankar1) December 29, 2018
Same old Arsenal 🙃 pic.twitter.com/PUfnpF9GvL
— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 29, 2018
Arsenal first goal lol @Slim10010 @Hugethe_Gap pic.twitter.com/cfi2bPZ3sm
— AclisterBoogie (@ACLISTER4) December 30, 2018
154 - Mohamed Salah's penalty means Arsenal vs Liverpool is now the highest scoring @premierleague fixture in the history of the competition (154 goals). Bonanza. #LIVARS pic.twitter.com/qqOCNj0gyi
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 29, 2018
Remember him? He grew up, joined Liverpool and was named Firmino and tonight he scored 3 past Arsenal. pic.twitter.com/kaoiqkUR7M
— Chrispine Marvine (@Marrvine) December 29, 2018
An Arsenal defender defending well in case you’d forgotten what that looked like. https://t.co/t2OSaLCtKA
— Tim Stillman (@Stillberto) December 29, 2018
Arsenal’s defenders pic.twitter.com/gPbRHYjq40
— Hugo 🇳🇴 (@Sissokoszn) December 29, 2018
Arsenal fans pic.twitter.com/hlWdv9ezcY
— • (@NDK8A) December 29, 2018
When #Arsenal thought they would come to #Liverpool and beat us. pic.twitter.com/GgKoTOHRu9
— amir ahtashⴰⵎⵉⵔ ⵉⵃⵜⴰⵛ (@elninoamir) December 30, 2018
Those five occasions:
— Michael King (@mickeyzuumbe) December 30, 2018
1998: Liverpool 4-0 Arsenal
2000: Liverpool 4-0 Arsenal
2014: Liverpool 5-1 Arsenal
2017: Liverpool 4-0 Arsenal
2018: Liverpool 5-1 Arsenal pic.twitter.com/ok8K2j5tBm
Oh wow would you look at the time it’s five past Arsenal https://t.co/G29zpF6a3b
— Sabah (@Sabah07) December 30, 2018
Liverpool 5-1 Arsenal. #LIVARS pic.twitter.com/Yxcw2AbdVD
— Kevin M. (@KevMetzger) December 30, 2018
Arsenal Fans 😂😂😂
— That.tall.boy🇳🇬⚽🌠 (@smoothgrove_) December 29, 2018
Same old Arsenal#LIVARS #arsenal pic.twitter.com/D1GOFlzORd
Arsenal fans right now#Arsenal pic.twitter.com/EV3J1qEOYI
— Davelyrixxxx (@daveatse) December 30, 2018
#LIVARS 5-1
— PAULDICE (@PAULDICEyz) December 30, 2018
This is what arsenal defense looked like
....a gate with no fence... pic.twitter.com/Fwf11dPqUQ
Unai has gone from Padawan to Master after that slip from 1 goal up against @liverpoolfc, echoing everything he has learnt in his training 👀😂 #liverpool #arsenal #LFCvAFC #lfc #gunners #unaiemery #arsenewenger #wengerin #topoftheklopps pic.twitter.com/62wlS6zxLD
— FootyShopped (@FootyShopped) December 29, 2018
"Hi, my name is Brooks and am an arsenal fan"
— IamMarie (@IamMari50595117) December 30, 2018
"Hi Brooks" pic.twitter.com/sTCLcqWmXS
Arsenal: *Go up a goal*
— Tristán (@TheFamousRed) December 29, 2018
Firmino: pic.twitter.com/RrHWbejfxw