Roberto Firmino propels Arsenal to a heart-pounding draw

A post-match scene of Arsenal despair painted a pretty picture for Manchester City. Gabriel Magalhães sank to his knees on the final whistle, Oleksandr Zinchenko held his head in his hands and Mikel Arteta assumed the role of counsellor‑in‑chief to lift his players physically and emotionally. Anfield, the stage of Arsenal’s greatest title moment, may have cost them dearly again.

In the 40th minute of a potentially defining game in the title race, Arsenal led Liverpool 2-0 and with such authority that an eight-point lead over City with eight games to play appeared a fair reflection of their precocious gifts. Then Granit Xhaka needlessly barged an arm into the back of Trent Alexander-Arnold and sparked a melee that ignited a previously forlorn home crowd. The elbow that the assistant referee Constantine Hatzidakis threw at Andy Robertson will claim the headlines, but it was Xhaka’s stupidity that shaped the rest of a pulsating, frentic and significant evening.

Mohamed Salah hauled Liverpool back into the contest seconds later with Arsenal’s composure gone. Jürgen Klopp’s side dominated the second half, Salah missing a penalty and Aaron Ramsdale performing heroics in the Arsenal goal before the substitute Roberto Firmino headed home an 87th‑minute equaliser in front of a raucous Kop.

There was still time and opportunity for Liverpool to win it. Arsenal too. Salah volleyed over from close range and had a deflected, goalbound effort tipped away brilliantly by Ramsdale, who then denied Ibrahima Konaté on the goalline. Arsenal broke in numbers one final time but Gabriel Martinelli misplaced his pass to Bukayo Saka and the chance was gone. A comfortable advantage over City has gone, too. It is now six points clear with eight games to play, including one at the Etihad Stadium. The scene of Arsenal players on their knees and shaking their heads in disbelief after the final whistle was as justified as it was telling.

A period of silence to mark the 34th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster on 15 April was impeccably observed before kick-off. Arsenal made a bright start that became the perfect one when Saka made his first impression on the contest.

Gabriel Martinelli set Arsenal off to a racing start against Liverpool with a goal in the eighth minute. Photograph: Paul Greenwood/Shutterstock

An early breakthrough commenced with a Ben White pass up to the England international. Robertson made the slightest slip as he attempted to close down Saka but it was enough to open a gap for the winger to exploit. An attempted one‑two with Martin Ødegaard was intercepted by Virgil van Dijk, whose loose touch fell perfectly for Martinelli. Ignoring the presence of several Liverpool defenders as they closed in, the forward was coolness personified as he took one touch before rolling the ball beyond Alisson. It was Martinelli’s seventh goal in his eight outings and a platform to soothe any anxiety.

Arsenal spent much of the next 20 minutes presenting a convincing case to be considered champions-elect. They sliced through Liverpool’s static midfield and confused defence with ease. To Anfield’s audible dismay, they faced minimal resistance. There was an intelligence to Arsenal’s distribution, drawing in the Liverpool press before clipping a ball into midfield or sweeping crossfield passes to the frequently unmarked Saka. Alisson denied Zinchenko at the end of one flowing move and Gabriel Jesus was unable to find the target when stretching to meet Saka’s inviting cross to the far post.

Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsdale makes an incredible save in injury time to deny Liverpool victory. Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters

The visitors doubled their lead with a goal that epitomised the swagger in their ranks and the uncertainty within Liverpool’s. Arsenal worked a free-kick through the centre to Xhaka, who released Martinelli into a void where Alexander-Arnold should have been. The goalscorer turned creator, delivering a perfect cross between Van Dijk and Robertson. Jesus rose on Easter Sunday to steer a textbook header inside Alisson’s left-hand post.

Liverpool were floundering but never out of it. They had joy whenever they pressed with aggression and organisation. They just did not do so often enough in the first half. The first time they shut down Arsenal’s escape routes resulted in Robertson racing behind White on to Fabinho’s floated pass. Robertson had to score. He dragged a low shot inches wide of the far post. Salah also had sight of goal when played through by Jordan Henderson. Again, a clear chance was pulled wide.

The Liverpool recovery started when Henderson turned Diogo Jota’s cross from the byline across goal and Salah, via an attempted Gabriel clearance, converted his customary goal against Arsenal at the back post. After the half-time whistle, Robertson attempted to continue an argument with Hatzidakis and appeared to receive an elbow to the chin for his troubles. The Football Association and PGMOL have launched an investigation into the official’s conduct.

Liverpool were gifted a glorious opportunity to equalise when Rob Holding, who otherwise had a fine game, caught Jota inside the area while attempting to clear a corner. Salah opted for precision but placed his spot-kick wide. It was the Egypt international’s second successive penalty miss.

Ramsdale denied Darwin Núñez, Gabriel headed straight at Alisson from a Saka corner and Liverpool finally broke Arsenal’s resistance when Alexander-Arnold nutmegged Zinchenko near the byline before floating a perfect cross to the far post where Firmino converted an emphatic header.

It should have been worse for Arsenal, far worse, as Liverpool squandered a host of gilt-edged chances in stoppage time. From 2-0 up to clinging on for a point, however, it felt a damaging day for Arteta’s league leaders regardless.