Arsenal pile on misery for struggling Liverpool

LONDON (AFP) –

Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard (left) vies with Arsenal‘s Abou Diaby during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield in Liverpool. Arsenal ended their goal drought in emphatic fashion as Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla inspired an impressive 2-0 win at Liverpool.

Arsenal ended their goal drought in emphatic fashion as Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla inspired an impressive 2-0 win at Liverpool on Sunday.

Arsene Wenger’s side had drawn a blank in their first two Premier League matches as they struggled to adapt to life without Dutch forward Robin van Persie, who joined Manchester United last month.

But the Gunners, held to goalless draws by Sunderland and Stoke, were back on target at Anfield thanks to two of Wenger’s pre-season signings.

Germany striker Podolski netted his first goal for the club in the first half to end Arsenal’s barren run of 211 scoreless minutes.

Then Spanish midfielder Cazorla bagged his first Gunners goal in the second half with a low shot that Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina should have saved.

That was more than enough to clinch Arsenal’s first win of the season and leave struggling Liverpool with just one point from their first three matches.

After Liverpool missed out on long-term transfer target Clint Dempsey and failed to make any other signings on deadline day, this lacklustre display was a painful end to a dispiriting week for Reds manager Brendan Rodgers.

Arsenal’s German forward Lukas Podolski (right) vies with Liverpool defender Glen Johnson during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield in Liverpool. Arsenal ended their goal drought in emphatic fashion as Podolski and Santi Cazorla inspired an impressive 2-0 win at Liverpool.

“The sharpness gets better from game to game. Overall we looked solid,” Wenger said. “We missed opportunities on the counter-attack at the start of the game but we had a convincing team performance.”

Rodgers added: “I am disappointed with the scoreline and the goals we conceded.

“We have things to work on, needing to keep the ball better and Arsenal did that well in the final period.

“Giving the ball away has nothing to do with the style of play. There is a long way to go.”

Later on Sunday, Manchester United travel to Southampton and Newcastle host Aston Villa.