In their clearest indication that they will be contending for the title, Arsenal beat Liverpool 3-2 at the Emirates stadium to maintain their stranglehold at the top of the table.

The London side took an early lead in the 1st minute when Gabriel Martinelli beat Liverpool defenders to slot home from a tight angle. The high intensity game saw Liverpool’s new signing Darwin Nunez equalize in the 34th minute.

However, Arsenal struck back to maintain the lead just before the break with Bukayo Saka tucking in Gabriel Martinelli’s cross in the 45th minute after a swift counter attack that found left Liverpool in the back foot heading into the second half.

Brazilian Roberto Firminho, who joined the fray as a substitute pulled one back for Liverpool in the 53rd minute to bring the game level after a cool finish in a well combined team effort.

It was till the 76th minute when Arsenal mounted pressure on Jurgen Klopp’s side which made Thiago Alacantara foul Gabriel Jesus in the 18 yard box to occasion a penalty which Bukayo Saka expertly converted for his second goal of the night.

Liverpool tried a late push to bring the game level with many tense moments for the home side but Arsenal clung on their lead for a hard fought win to extend their perfect league record at home to five matches this season.

Liverpool now sit 10th, a massive 14 points behind the table-topping Gunners, albeit with a game in hand. It’s a long, long way back into the title contest for them – if there is any way back – but nine games in it is Arsenal leading the way, a point clear from Manchester City.