Arsenal down Liverpool after devastating eight-minute spell

Just three minutes later, the hosts were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the area, and much-maligned Mesut Ozil did well to again beat the Belgian stopper for his side’s second.

Arenal then made it 3-0 just before injury time straight after a Liverpool attack. Sanchez’s super strike deceived Mignolet and went over his glove, to get his team’s third in just eight minutes.

Brendan Rodgers would have been left wondering how his side hadn’t got at least a goal at the break. But he brought on Daniel Sturridge to give the Reds more firepower in attack.

However, it was Olivier Giroud who had the first chance after the break, but his decent strike was held, meaning he was unable to score in his sixth successive game yet.

The Frenchman had an even better chance minutes later, but his header was superbly saved by Mignolet.

Emre Can had a low shot palmed away by Ospina at the other end. Countinho also came close again, but his effort whistled past the post.

After having one penalty turned down, Liverpool got a second as goalscorer Bellerin downed Sterling in the area. Henderson stepped up and his shot just found a way through Ospina’s fingers into the bottom left hand corner. Spaniard could count himself lucky, though, as he was already on a yellow card.

Substitute Welbeck had a late chance as he ran into the box, but Mignolet made himself big and blocked the shot.

Liverpool’s problems got worse, as Can was sent off after an earlier booking as he caught Welbeck from behind.

Cazorla had a chance to finish it off once and for all just before the 90 minutes were up, but his shot clipped the outside of the post.

But moments later, Giroud finally got his goal to continue his great form, as he now has 10 in his last 10. On the edge of the box, he also beat Mignolet to his right with his left foot, as did Bellerin and Ozil.

The loss for Liverpool all-but ends their chances of finishing in the Champions League places with seven games of the season to go. While Arsene Wenger’s men now have a nine-point cushion on the Reds, and temporarily leapfroged Manchester City into second.