Arsenal tasted sweet revenge over Liverpool at the Emirates and booked their place in the last eight of The FA Cup.
A first half strike from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and one from Lukas Podolski shortly after the break gave the Gunners the advantage and their fans much to smile about.
Steven Gerrard’s penalty for Liverpool set up a nail-biting final thirty minutes, but it was the north London outfit who came out on top.
Arsenal 2-1 Liverpool
The FA Cup with Budweiser
Fifth Round
Sunday 16 February 2014
The Emirates
Winners receive £180,000 from FA Prize Fund
After the 5-1 defeat eight days earlier, Arsene Wenger made five changes to his side, with 21-year-old French striker Yaya Sanogo making his first appearance since August.
Meanwhile Brendan Rodgers had three different names on his team-sheet as he welcomed back Daniel Agger in place of former Arsenal man Kolo Toure.
But it was one of the stars of the recent encounter who was keen to make an impact early on.
Daniel Sturridge was twice denied an opener inside five minutes, first by Gunners’ keeper Lukasz Fabianski and then he found the side-netting after going around the Pole.
But Arsenal, buoyed by their home support, were looking to erase the memory of the drubbing at Anfield.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was a lively customer down Arsenal’s right, giving the Reds left-back Aly Cissokho much to think about.
And it was the England man who earned the Gunners a deserved lead. Liverpool failed to clear the danger as Arsenal heaped on the pressure.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was a thorn in Liverpool's side
A high ball into the box wasn’t dealt with properly and it fell kindly to Chamberlain who stroked into the back of the net from 12 yards.
It was relief as much as joy for Wenger’s men, who were well worth the lead.
Liverpool begun to get more involved going forward, with Raheem Sterling continuing to excite on the left wing. He carved out his own chance with ten minutes of the first half remaining, flying around the back of Carl Jenkinson before cutting in along the byeline, but the angle was too tight.
Luis Suarez was again showing his usually trickery inside the box, but was often finding his path blocked by the resolute defending of Koscielny and Mertesacker. When he did manage to get a shot away with a minute left of the first half, Fabianski was equal to it.
The Uruguayan was kept out again by a stubborn Fabianski inside the opening minute of the second half, carving a path into the box and shooting low towards the far corner. Fabianski’s out-stretched leg getting in the way. Suarez’s first goal in February still eluded him.
It would prove a vital save as Arsenal doubled their lead seconds later. Mikel Arteta, played a perfectly weighted pass inside the right-hand channel for Chamberlain to nip in behind Cissokho before drilling a low cross into the path of Lukas Podolski.
The German applied a cool finish below the dive of Brad Jones and Arsenal had one foot into the quarter-final.
Mathieu Flamini and Luis Suarez tussle for possession
With Liverpool needing a goal, the game opened up and both teams had chances. An Ozil strike for the home side was kept out by Jones, while Suarez was becoming frustrated as his opportunities were proving fruitless.
However, when he was tripped by Podolski inside the box with an hour played, Steven Gerrard stepped up to give the visitors a lifeline, tucking away the penalty in front of his faithful fans.
It really was game on as Rodgers threw Jordan Henderson into the mix in place of Cissokho. They also had another shout for a penalty when Chamberlain’s challenge sent Suarez sprawling, but referee Howard Webb wasn’t convinced.
Arsenal were now playing on the break, with Liverpool’s influence on the game growing stronger.
Substitute Santi Cazorla, on for goalscorer Podolski, had a chance to extend their lead when he latched on to a half-clearance from Martin Skrtel on the edge of the box. But the Spaniard blazed the ball high over the bar.
Liverpool’s search for an equaliser was to be in vain, as Saurez continued to be thwarted and a late Daniel Agger header, which had Fabianski beaten, drifted agonisingly wide.
It will instead by Arsenal hosting Everton in the Sixth Round, rather than a Merseyside derby.
Arsenal (4-4-1-1)
Lukasz Fabianski; Carl Jenkinson, Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny, Nacho Monreal; Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Kieran Gibbs, 76), Mikel Arteta (c), Mathieu Flamini, Lukas Podolski (Santi Cazorla, 69); Mesut Ozil; Yaya Sanogo (Olivier Giroud, 88)
Subs Bacary Sagna, Jack Wilshere, Emiliano Viviano, Serge Gnabry
Goals: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain 16, Lukas Podolski 46
Bookings: Nacho Monreal, Mathieu Flamini
Liverpool (4-3-3)
Brad Jones; Jon Flanagan, Martin Skrtel, Daniel Agger, Aly Cissokho (Jordan Henderson, 62); Steven Gerrard (c); Philippe Coutinho, Joe Allen; Raheem Sterling, Daniel Sturridge, Luis Suarez
Subs Kolo Toure, Iago Aspas, Victor Moses, Simon Mignolet, Martin Kelly, Joao Teixeira
Goal: Steven Gerrard (p) 59
Bookings: Jon Flanagan, Philippe Coutinho, Steven Gerrard,
Referee: Howard Webb
Assistants: Simon Beck, Darren England
Fourth Official: Neil Swarbrick
Attendance: 59,801
