Top 5 Wins Over Liverpool

Although recent years have been a struggle against Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool, Arsenal have a history of big moments against The Reds. From FA Cup triumphs to league title clinchers, this fixture truly has had it all. So, let's explore the archives and revisit some of those classic victories for The Arsenal!

Michael Thomas Clinches the Title

Almost certainly the most incredible climax to a league season. With Arsenal having lead the way for so much of the 1988/89 campaign, it looked as though they were going to throw the title away in the closing weeks following slip ups at Highbury against Derby County and Wimbledon. Arsenal subsequently had to go to the home of the defending Champions, knowing that only a win by two clear goals would be enough for them to prize the trophy from Kenny Dalglish's Liverpool. 

After an edgy first half, Arsenal took the lead
midway through the second with a glancing header by Alan Smith. As the clock ticked into stoppage time, John Lukic bowled the ball out to Lee Dixon who lofted a ball up to the feet of Smith. As he played a pass into the path of Michael Thomas, the ball ricocheted off of a Liverpool defender and Thomas found himself one-on-one with Bruce Grobbelaar. Then those famous words: "It's up for grabs now! Thomas!"

With the flick of a right boot, the Arsenal midfielder secured the most incredible title win in the history of the football league. Many have compared it to Manchester City clinching their first league title with two stoppage-time goals over Queen's Park Rangers, but can that truly match going to the home of the defending Champions and taking the title away with virtually the last kick of the game? I'll leave you to be the judge. 

Freddie at the Ready

In the 2001/02 season, Arsenal went to Anfield with their title aspirations needing a boost. Having lost at Highbury to Newcastle United five days earlier, they knew a result was much needed to put their season back on track. Their task was made all the harder though, when Giovanni van Bronckhorst was given a second-bookable offence for an alleged dive in the 35th minute. 

Arsenal were then awarded a penalty on the stroke of half-time, which Thierry Henry duly dispatched, giving The Gunners something to cling onto. Just eight minutes into the second half though, Freddie Ljungberg produced a lung-bursting run to get on the end of a Robert Pires cross to double Arsenal's lead and send the travelling supporters into raptures. Despite their numerical disadvantage, Arsenal had well and truly taken the game to Liverpool. 

Just two minutes later, Jari Litmanen pulled one back for the hosts to put Arsenal up against it once more. Despite Liverpool's pressure, Arsenal hung on to clinch a vital three points that would springboard them above the hosts in the table. The season went onto be a special one for Arsenal, clinching a league and cup double while remarkably, not losing a single time away from home all season. 

Hat-trick Hero, Thierry Henry

Knocked out of the FA Cup to Manchester United, knocked out of the Champions League to Chelsea; it had certainly been a week to forget for Arsenal. However, often strength comes from adversity, and that is certainly what happened at Highbury that Good Friday. 

Arsenal were hurting, and Liverpool were looking to force more misery down their throats by ending their unbeaten run and damaging their title aspirations. At half time, it looked as though both of those things may happen. Sami Hyypia h
ad given the visitors an early lead, before Thierry Henry equalised with a sumptuous touch and finish. Michael Owen then gave Liverpool the lead once more just before the break.

This was Arsenal's season on the line. A campaign that had at one time looked like it could see Arsenal win the treble or even the quadruple, their last chance of silverware was now dangerously close to disappearing. Just four minutes into the second half though, and they were level. Ljungberg cushioned the ball into the path of Pires, who slotted the ball past Jerzy Dudek to give Arsenal the perfect start to the second half. 

Things then got even better for Arsenal. Henry picked up the ball midway inside the Liverpool half and decided enough was enough. Running at Hamman, beating him, running at Carragher, beating him, one-on-one with the keeper, the rest was inevitable. Highbury erupted and Arsenal had their season back on track. 

As the game ticked towards its conclusion, there was still time for a fairy tale ending. Henry clinched his hat-trick, somewhat fortuitously, following a delightful ball from Dennis Bergkamp. The Frenchman's shot bounced off Dudek, before ricocheting back off of Henry and into the net. Highbury and Arsenal could breathe once more, and just two months later, Arsenal had completed an entire season unbeaten and clinched their 13th league title. 

Magical Mesut

In 2015, Arsenal looked to consolidate their place in the top four with a win over Liverpool at Emirates Stadium and ripped the visitors apart in a pulsating first half. Liverpool had threatened early on and should have taken the lead, but once Arsenal got their noses in front there was only one outcome.

A young Hector Bellerin opened the scoring, sublimely stepping inside onto his weaker left foot and curling a precise effort into the far corner. Minutes later and it was two. Arsenal were awarded a freekick on the edge of the box, and Mesut Ozil needed no further invitation to hit a shot past the outstretched Simon Mignolet. 

Alexis Sanchez then put the gloss on a sensational first half. Following a clever reverse pass from Aaron Ramsey, the Chilean stepped inside the sliding Kolo Toure and rifled a right-footed effort into the roof of the net.

Liverpool pulled one back in the second half through Jordan Henderson after Bellerin had fouled Sterling, but Arsenal restored their three goal buffer in stoppage time, when Olivier Giroud powered home the fourth. 

Saka Sinks Klopp

Last season, Arsenal seemingly answered their critics on a weekly basis. Every time they were called into question, the youthful side responded with big performances, and the visit of Liverpool to the Emirates was no different. 

Inside a raucous stadium, Arsenal scored within the first 60 seconds; Martin Odegaard playing a perfectly timed pass into the path of Gabriel Martinelli before the Brazilian slotted calmly past Alisson. Liverpool replied and started to dominate the game, suffocating Arsenal at times in their own half. Following a sustained spell of pressure, they got their reward and equalised through Darwin Nunez. 

Then it was Arsenal's turn to respond. Seconds before the whistle for the interval, Martinelli pulled a cross-come-shot across the penalty box, where Bukayo Saka was on hand to tap home and restore Arsenal's advantage. 

Following the break, Liverpool again hit back, equalising through Roberto Firmino. But it was Arsenal who would get the final edge in a topsy-turvy game, when they were awarded a penalty that was dispatched, with confidence by Saka. Although Arsenal didn't go on to win the title, this game felt like a coming of age where they could now not only compete, but come out on top against the best.

So there we have it, five classics to whet the appetite ahead of the crunch clash at the Emirates. Hopefully we'll have another one to add to the list!