Even though the FA Cup third round weekend is still much anticipated for its potential upsets, there is occasionally a forced attempt to find significance in matches that match up two Premier League teams with more pressing matters at this point in the campaign.

There are moments when there are doubts about the value of a game like Arsenal vs. Liverpool beyond the need to prevent a rematch. These uncertainties also lingered after the game, but by the time it ended, it was difficult to question its importance for both teams.

especially Arsenal. Their third consecutive loss was summoned from the ruins of a plethora of wasted opportunities, and it appeared to be another turning point in the shocking collapse of a season that had, up until now, held out so much promise.

In their last seven games across all competitions, Mikel Arteta’s team has only triumphed once. This match was an opportunity to start heading back in the right way following back-to-back league losses to Fulham and West Ham, but it has only increased the immediate doubt about the club’s future.

Arsenal might have easily won the game by a wide margin. They all got intoxicated. And in response to their negligence, Liverpool—who have surpassed them at the top of the Premier League—called upon even more of the tenacity that has defined their ascent and executed an incredible smash-and-grab raid with two goals in the dying moments.

Their victory advanced them into the fourth round draw and gave them even more confidence, even though their talisman, Mohamed Salah, is away at the Africa Cup of Nations. A season that looked like it might belong at Aresenal now feels like Merseyside is the driving force.

It should have been Arsenal’s goal within two minutes. Recalled to the starting lineup for this match, Aaron Ramsdale kicked a long kick up field at Reiss Nelson.

Brahima Konate appeared to be watching it fly over his head, as if expecting it to run onto Alisson, but Nelson pounced on it and maneuvered the ball past the Liverpool keeper. However, his touch was wide, and he only found the side-netting while attempting to slip the ball in.

Arsenal quickly got close once more. Bukayo Saka snatched the ball from Trent Alexander-Arnold as he dallied and dashed into the box. After he drew the ball back, it dropped to Martin Odegaard, who touched the ball, curled a shot past Alisson, and it struck the bar’s underside. Nelson and Kai Havertz were unable to convert second-chance opportunities.

Up until halfway through the game, when Darwin Nunez rose unmarked to meet a Harvey Elliott corner eight yards out, Liverpool could muster very little in response. Nunez could only flick his header wide. Nunez has a well-known tale: he is given opportunities, but much too frequently finds it difficult to complete them.

It was merely a lull in Arsenal’s dominance, as Odegaard’s surge forward gave the home team another fantastic opportunity after Saka’s cunning and footwork mesmerized the Liverpool defense. He placed the ball in Havertz’s path, but Havertz took too long to compose himself and miskicked his attempt at goal.

Havertz should have scored from a corner, but his header went wide, then Ben White pricked Alisson’s fingertips with a soaring shot that the goalkeeper parried. Arteta stood by on the touchline, looking on in blatant bewilderment. The home crowd’s fury intensified more and more.

Just before halftime, Jarell Quansah gave up the ball while attempting to play the ball out of the Liverpool defense. Havertz, however, was unable to take advantage of the opportunity, and Arsenal came dangerously close to being penalized when a beautifully struck shot from Alexander-Arnold’s right boot cannoned off the bar.

Liverpool started the second half with renewed vigor. When many were anticipating the net to bulge, Alexander-Arnold delivered a superb pass into Nunez’s path. Nunez then cut inside on to his right foot and unleashed a wicked effort that sailed just beyond of Ramsdale’s left hand post.

With a deft free kick that released Havertz on the left side of the box, Arsenal broke through the Liverpool defense. His chip across goal was begging to be converted, but Saka could only hook it over when it fell to him after it escaped William Saliba, who was charging in.

It was now Liverpool’s time to blow opportunities. With twenty minutes remaining, Nunez pounced on a fantastic through ball and pinned Ramsdale. Instead of taking charge and going for the goal, a more assured striker would have hesitated and attempted to send the ball square to Luis Diaz. Diaz took the pass in error. He moved on, losing out on another chance.

Fifteen minutes remaining, Ramsdale made the best save of the match to deflect a Diaz shot around the goal post. Diogo Jota leaped highest to beat the Arsenal goalkeeper with his header from the ensuing corner, but it bounced off the crossbar.

Liverpool continued to apply pressure. Alexander-Arnold was standing over the corner flag when they were awarded a free kick. The Liverpool captain is one of the best players when it comes to dead balls; when he bent the ball in quickly, Jakub Kiwior attempted to head it clear but was only able to deflect it beyond Ramsdale to put Liverpool ahead.

When Liverpool broke again deep into added time, Diaz found space on the right side of the Arsenal box and blasted a shot high into the roof of the net to secure the tie. Arsenal launched a frantic attempt to equalize.