LONDON, ENGLAND - Wednesday, January 30, 2013: Liverpool's Jordan Henderson celebrates scoring the second goal against Arsenal during the Premiership match at the Emirates Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Arsenal vs Liverpool: The Reds’ last 5 Emirates showdowns

With Liverpool heading to Arsenal on Monday evening, Henry Jackson looks back at the last five games between the two at the Emirates Stadium.

LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, February 16, 2014: Arsenal's Emirates Stadium before the FA Cup 5th Round match between Arsenal and Liverpool. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Two of English football’s biggest clubs once again do battle in north London on Monday, as both look for early bragging rights over the other in 2015/16.

Liverpool haven’t exactly had a happy time of things at the Emirates Stadium since it opened nine years ago, but how have the last five contests there between the Reds and the Gunners panned out?

Here’s a little, slightly depressing, trip down memory lane.

 

Arsenal 4-1 Liverpool – 4th April 2015 (Premier League)

LONDON, ENGLAND - Saturday, April 4, 2015: Liverpool's Joe Allen, Lazar Markovic, Lucas Leiva and captain Jordan Henderson look dejected as Arsenal score the third goal before half-time during the Premier League match at the Emirates Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

This was a dark day for Brendan Rodgers’ side, whose 2014/15 season was imploding following the 2-1 loss to Man United at Anfield in their previous game.

Liverpool never really recovered from a terrible start in which Kolo Toure, in particular, was all at sea in defence.

Hector Bellerin curled home after poor defensive work from Alberto Moreno, Mesut Ozil doubled the lead with an inch-perfect free-kick and Alexis Sanchez thundered a third past Simon Mignolet before half-time.

A Jordan Henderson penalty did at least give the travelling Reds something to shout about with 14 minutes remaining, but Olivier Giroud put the icing on the cake in stoppage time.

 

Arsenal 2-1 Liverpool – 16th February 2014 (FA Cup)

LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, February 16, 2014: Liverpool's Luis Suarez is hacked down by Arsenal's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain but amazingly no penalty was given during the FA Cup 5th Round match at the Emirates Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Liverpool have often played badly at the Emirates and lost, but in this FA Cup fifth round clash, they were extremely unlucky to be knocked out.

Rodgers’ men had destroyed the Gunners 5-1 at Anfield eight days earlier in the Premier League, and they once again bossed possession for large periods.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain side-footed the hosts in front after 16 minutes, however, after the ball fell rather fortuitously to him, and Lukas Podolski added a second with a well-taken effort after the interval.

Steven Gerrard’s penalty gave Liverpool hope near the hour mark, and they were robbed of another spot-kick when referee Howard Webb failed to spot a clear foul on Luis Suarez by Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Defeat was hard to take, given how well the Reds had played.

 

Arsenal 2-0 Liverpool – 2nd November 2013 (Premier League)

LONDON, ENGLAND - Saturday, November 2, 2013: Liverpool's captain Steven Gerrard looks dejected following his side's 2-0 defeat during the Premiership match at the Emirates Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Arsenal and Liverpool went into this 2013/14 clash in first and second place in the league respectively, but the Reds never really showed up on a bitterly disappointing afternoon at the Emirates.

Santi Cazorla, quite often a thorn in the Reds’ side over the years, scored at the second attempt 10 minutes in, after his initial header had cannoned off the post.

Aaron Ramsey then scored a fabulous second for the Gunners, smashing a 25-yard half-volley past a helpless Mignolet.

The win never looked in doubt, and many felt Liverpool’s unlikely title challenge had evaporated by November. How wrong they were, and it wouldn’t be long until the Reds took Arsenal apart in that aforementioned 5-1 mauling.

 

Arsenal 2-2 Liverpool – 30th January 2013 (Premier League)

LONDON, ENGLAND - Wednesday, January 30, 2013: Liverpool's Jordan Henderson celebrates scoring the second goal against Arsenal during the Premiership match at the Emirates Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

A cracking game between the pair took place back in January 2013, and although a point was a fairly decent result for Rodgers’ men, it could have been so much better.

Suarez’s deflected strike gave Liverpool a dream start, while Daniel Sturridge, Daniel Agger and Henderson all came close to adding a second.

Henderson sent the Reds supporters wild in the second-half, however, as he powered his way past several Arsenal defenders before finishing clinically at the second time of asking.

The visitors couldn’t hold onto their lead, unfortunately, as Giroud and Theo Walcott both scored to salvage a point for Wenger’s side.

Both teams had chances to win it – Giroud for Arsenal, Suarez for Liverpool – but a share of the spoils was probably fair.

 

Arsenal 0-2 Liverpool – 20th August 2011 (Premier League)

LONDON, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 20, 2011: Liverpool's Luis Alberto Suarez Diaz and Raul Meireles celebrates scoring the first goal against Arsenal during the Premiership match at the Emirates Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

This remains the Reds’ only ever win at the Emirates, and it came during an ugly game of football at the start of the 2011/12 campaign.

A dour contest was sparked into life with 20 minutes left, when youngster Emmanuel Frimpong received a second yellow card for a reckless lunge on Lucas Leiva.

Liverpool made the extra man count, with Ramsey’s unfortunate own goal giving them a 78th-minute lead, and Suarez sealing the win in the dying moments.

Much of the same would be just what the doctor ordered on Monday night.

[interaction id=”55d6e44f8db5195214265576″]