X reacts as comedy of errors decide Arsenal's victory over Liverpool

Earlier this season, Mauricio Pochettino quite rightly said: "Football is a game of mistakes."

The Argentine's calamitous Chelsea side have done their best to prove him right but Arsenal and Liverpool delivered plenty of supporting evidence themselves on Sunday afternoon, with both teams benefitting from bone-headed blunders.

Arsenal managed to come out on top in a truly chaotic contest, winning 3-1 to reignite their tilt for the Premier League title.

Bukayo Saka's opener ensured that the Gunners have scored the first goal in each of their last four league matches against Liverpool - the first time Arsenal have achieved such a feat in this fixture since 1970.

Played to a deafening soundtrack inside the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal were well worth their early lead, suffocating the visitors with a coordinated press. The Gunners had been just as sharp against Liverpool in the FA Cup last month but were painfully profligate in front of goal.

Kai Havertz hadn't discovered his ruthless streak. The German, starting in place of the injured Gabriel Jesus, latched on to Martin Odegaard's wonderfully cushioned pass but tamely prodded the ball into Alisson's chest. Fortunately for the Gunners, Saka was on hand to gobble up the rebound and fire Arsenal into a familiar lead.

Arsenal may have forced their way ahead regularly against Liverpool but actually holding on to that advantage has been far less common.

Arteta's side were entirely and utterly in control as the first half ticked into stoppage time, denying the visitors a single shot on target. Yet, Jurgen Klopp's side still somehow scuttled into the interval with the scores level.

William Saliba characteristically anticipated a pass over the top, shifting his hulking frame between Luis Diaz and the ball. David Raya didn't take his cue to pick the ball up, allowing Diaz to blindly hook his boot around Saliba. Diaz's stab was directed away from Arsenal's goal but cannoned off Gabriel's arm, trundling over the line.

In place of the Benny Hill theme, a hush descended around the Emirates.

The few onlookers that weren't sniggering highlighted the irony in Arsenal conceding from a handball incident after Odegaard was not penalised for stopping the ball with his palm in the reverse league fixture at Anfield.

PGMOL chief Howard Webb revealed that Arsenal should have conceded a penalty for Odegaard's offence last December and fans revelled in the karmic justice.

The calamitous defending proved to be contagious. Liverpool were much improved after the break - they could scarcely get worse - but Virgil van Dijk and Alisson delivered their own blunder in the same penalty area as Arsenal's first-half mishap.

Gabriel's long punt forward was aimless and seemingly harmless but Liverpool's two most experienced players on the pitch got their wires crossed. While Van Dijk was preoccupied with bumping into Gabriel Martinelli, Alisson came charging off his line only to jump past the ball. Martinelli managed to control his surprise long enough to roll Arsenal's second of the afternoon into an unguarded net.

Ibrahima Konate received a second yellow card for unwisely sticking his hand in Havertz's face in the 88th minute but couldn't distract from the bashful pair of Van Dijk and Alisson.

Klopp's substitutions, so often the deciding factor this season - not least on Liverpool's last visit to the Emirates - shoehorned Diaz into an unfamiliar right-back position for the closing stages. The natural winger couldn't contain Leandro Trossard as the Arsenal sub wriggled down a spartan left flank deep into stoppage time. Van Dijk shuffled across but could only get a toe to Trossard's low thump which sent it scuttling between Alisson's open legs.

Arsenal's victory sends them two points behind league-leaders Liverpool with 15 games of the season left to play. Although, Manchester City are only three points further back with two games in hand.

READ THE LATEST PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS, RUMOURS & GOSSIP