Clinical Gunners down the Reds at Anfield

Liverpool 0-2 Arsenal (FT)

By Zain Alvi | 2nd September 2012

Two of Arsenal’s summer signings, namely Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla, struck either side of the break to win 2-0 at Liverpool and force the home side to remain without a single win in the Premier League this season.

Podolski made his impact right in front of the Kop at the half-hour mark when he finely struck from the left side of the box to give Pepe Reina no chance of a save.

In doing so, the Germany international earned the Gunners their first goal of the season after back-to-back goalless draws to open the season at home to Sunderland and away to Stoke City.

Up until Arsenal’s opening goal, the Reds had looked in control aside from their struggles to score. Following half-time, the story remained much of the same at Anfield.

The visitors were more clinical, as they proved once again in the 68th minute, when Cazorla made a terrific run into the box and smashed it past his former Villarreal teammate Reina.

While the shot was struck very well, the Spanish goalkeeper was partly at fault too for deflecting the ball into the net with his elbow.

For Liverpool, there was little joy to take out of a match where their goal-scoring threat was below par and defending needed to be better as well.

Arsene Wenger’s men, meanwhile, had plenty to celebrate; in addition to the maiden strikes for two of the club’s summer signings, they saw Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain make a vibrant return to the starting line-up.

Laurent Koscielny also made his much-awaited comeback, but his return to action came as a replacement for skipper Thomas Vermaelen, who left the match late following a series of physical plays.

All said and done, Arsenal did not exactly dominate Liverpool but they did everything required of them to secure a clinical win over a team that many consider their direct rivals.

Steve Bould’s defensive preparations propelled the Gunners to their third consecutive clean sheet, even with first choice goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny out of action, and the highly anticipated arrival of goals ensured that they avenge the disappointing home defeat the Reds inflicted upon them early last season.

Arsenal now head into the international break unbeaten, with two tricky away matches out of the way already. Liverpool, meanwhile, have earned only a point out of a possible nine to leave manager Brendan Rodgers searching for answers.