Arsenal, seen by many as the main title rivals to Manchester United only a few
weeks ago, now find themselves struggling even to finish in the top three after
being eclipsed by Liverpool at Highbury.
For Titi Camara's 18th-minute strike, his first goal in seven games, may have
signalled a significant twist in the power balance near the top of the
Premiership.
While Arsenal are now in fourth place, still nine points behind United after
playing a game more, Liverpool have overtaken them to offer a realistic
challenge to the leaders, and Chelsea are poised just a point behind the Gunners
in fifth spot.
Whether Gerard Houllier's team have the potency up front to pose a realistic
title challenge remains to be seen, unless Robbie Fowler or Michael Owen can
make convincing comebacks from injury before too long.
And at Highbury they also lost midfielder Steven Gerrard with an injury that
could threaten his chances of making the England squad to face Argentina.
However, Liverpool have the best defensive record in the top flight -
underpinned by captain Sami Hyypia and Stephane Henchoz and the calming
influence of Dietmar Hamann ahead of them - and they are unencumbered by either
Europe or the FA Cup.
Just like Leeds, who host United next Sunday, much will hang on whether
Houllier's team can achieve a result at Old Trafford in their next competitive
game after a three-week rest.
However, they certainly deserved their victory at Highbury, with a desperately
poor Arsenal side only belatedly coming to life in the final 10 minutes.
Even then, though, they were unable to score their first goal against
Liverpool in six games and their appalling record against the visitors now
stretches to just one win in 17 League and Cup games.
All that after recalling Dennis Bergkamp to the starting line-up for the first
time since the end of November yet even he was unable to inspire a side
completely lacking invention in the first-half.
Thierry Henry did manage to twist and produce a sudden snap-shot which almost
caught keeper Sander Westerveld too far off his line.
However, the Dutchman reacted quickly enough to parry the shot and that
effort, combined with a frenetic spell of 10 unpunished lunging tackles, finally
woke up the home crowd.
Not that they enjoyed what they then saw, however, as Gerrard threaded a
menacing pass through Arsenal's static defence and as Martin Keown left his role
in marking Camara to team-mate Gilles Grimandi, the striker was left in acres of
space.
Camara bore down on the exposed figure of keeper David Seaman before finally
picking his spot and the Gunners' defence, again missing Tony Adams, had yet
been punished for what is becoming a costly catalogue of errors.
Liverpool defended their lead stoutly from then on and when Fredrik Ljungberg
did manage to weave past three opponents in the penalty area, Gerrard arrived at
breakneck speed to dispossess him with a crunching tackle.
Unfortunately for Liverpool - and quite possibly Kevin Keegan as well - the
impact of that challenge led to the teenager having to limp off clutching a bag
of ice to his groin.
With Vegard Heggem now on at full-back and Jamie Carragher moving into central
midfield, Arsenal did manage to create one clear opening when Henry's pace gave
him a rare sight of goal, yet Westerveld did well to block with his legs.
At the other end, Seaman had to be similarly agile to block Erik Meijer's path
after Camara's through ball had again opened up the home defence.
But at half-time, the Highbury video screen was left to reflect on rather more
auspicious past games against Liverpool - including the 1989 title decider - as
it struggled to find much from the present to revel in.
The Gunners' chances were further harmed by Emmanuel Petit being forced off at
the interval following a kick on the knee - only just after voicing his concern
that his career could be ended by another serious injury to that part of his
body.
That paved the way for the reintroduction of Marc Overmars, with Ray Parlour
moving inside, and then it was Liverpool's turn to suffer yet another injury to
a striker, with Meijer twisting his knee after being challenged by Patrick
Vieira.
However, with Meijer not feeling fit enough to resume until after midfielder
Danny Murphy had replaced him, that left Arsenal to battle their way through a
five-man midfield.
Davor Suker soon came on for the tiring Bergkamp and although Arsenal
dominated possession, their approach play was slapdash at best and their passing
atrocious.
They continued to be vulnerable at the back and when a slip by Keown let in
Murphy, only a reaction save by Seaman denied him, while Hamann also shot just
wide.
As last throws of the dice go, putting Oleg Luzhny on for Ljungberg did not
seem the most convincing yet it took a goal-line block by Dominic Matteo to deny
the midfielder at the far post, while Henry headed the ensuing corner just
over.
Overmars also managed to scoop a shot past the upright from close range, while
Vieira then crashed a fierce shot against the crossbar and Suker's back-header
was straight into Westerveld's arms.
At least Camara spooned a shot way over when put clear in injury time while
Smicer also shot wide, but it was simply not Arsenal's day.
And unless the imminent return of Kanu from the African Nations' Cup can
reignite them soon, it will not be their season either.
Teams
Arsenal: Seaman, Dixon, Keown, Grimandi, Silvinho, Parlour,
Vieira, Petit (Overmars 46), Ljungberg (Luzhny 77),Bergkamp (Suker 59), Henry.
Subs Not Used: Winterburn, Manninger.
Booked: Parlour.
Liverpool: Westerveld, Carragher, Henchoz, Hyypia, Matteo,
Smicer, Hamann, Gerrard (Heggem 33), Berger,Meijer (Murphy 55), Camara.
Subs Not Used: Staunton, Nielsen, Traore.
Booked: Camara.
Goals: Camara 18.
Att: 38,098.
Ref: S Dunn (Bristol).
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