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Arsenal´s Premier League title hopes took a massive hit on Saturday as the team was crushed 5-1 by Liverpool in embarrassing fashion. In a truly woeful performance, Arsenal allowed the Anfield club to sweep them aside and were even 4-0 down within in the first 20 minutes. While the scoring slowed in the second half it could easily have been seven or eight for the Reds. Arsenal now slips to second in the league after Chelsea defeated Newcastle 3-0 to claim top spot.

While getting any points from Anfield was going to be tough, Arsene Wenger would not have expected his first choice starting 11 to collapse. The game had dangerous echoes of the infamous 8-2 defeat at Manchester United, but at least then the Gunners were seriously weakened. On this occasion the players crumbled in the face of the challenge and the blistering pace of Liverpool´s attack.

However, it was a familiar Arsenal problem that led to the first two goals, with Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel netting twice in the opening stages. Skrtel claimed a Steven Gerrard free kick and later scored from a corner supplied by the ´Pool captain’. The worrying thing from Arsenal´s perspective was that Skrtel was allowed to rise unmarked.

The Gunners were rattled by that early brace and Liverpool´s attacking line up was clearly proving a serious problem for Per Mertesacker. The German is known for his lack of pace and mobility and Luis Suarez, Daniel Sturridge, Raheem Sterling, and Coutinho took full advantage of the space behind the Arsenal defense. Jordan Henderson stole the ball from an idling Mesut Ozil on the halfway line and supplied Suarez on the right wing. The Uruguayan in turn found Sterling at the far post for a tap in and goal number three.

Arsenal´s misery was not complete as Liverpool plundered a fourth within twenty minutes of kick off when Coutinho sent Sturridge through. The England striker slotted easily passed a flailing and out of position Wojciech Szczesny.

Arsenal had been shell shocked and the truth is Liverpool could have scored another three or four before the halftime whistle sounded around Anfield. Arsenal seemed in better shape in the second half but the team was still below championship winning form. Liverpool hit a fifth when Sterling entered the box and was given a second chance to score.

Liverpool continued to dominate for the rest of the match, but the Gunners grabbed a consolation penalty after Gerrard felled Oxlade-Chamberlain in the area. Arteta confidently scored down the middle but the damage had been done and Arsenal had been humiliated.

Arsenal reclaimed first place in the Premier league with a 2-0 home win over Crystal Palace on Sunday. The Gunners were made to work hard for the victory but the team again struck in the second half thanks to a brace from the fit and firing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Arsenal will stay top this week if Manchester City fail to beat Chelsea in a 2^nd vs. 3^rd clash during Monday Night Football.

Oxlade-Chamberlain was starting only his second game since picking up an injury on the first day of the season, but the 20-year old England man has wasted no time in getting up to form. However, the breakthrough took a time to come as Palace put up a resilient front during the first 45-minutes, frustrating the Gunners and the Emirates faithful.

Arsenal carved open several chances early on, including a Nacho Monreal chance after the Spaniard collected Mesut Ozil’s glided pass. The left back was thwarted by Palace keeper Julian Speroni when he rushed out to make the save. Former Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh was causing problems for his former club as he broke clear, but could only strike the ball against a grateful Wojciech Szczesny.

Despite struggling near the bottom of the table, Palace demonstrated the clear improvement that has been evident under Tony Pulis and provided a disciplined test for Arsenal. Pulis had clearly sent his troops out to bother the Arsenal attack and it worked as the home team could not find its typical flowing rhythm. The half ended with the scores even and Arsene Wenger once again had to chase the win in the second period.

Luckily, Wenger´s team talks at the midway point seem to have been working of late and so it proved again as the Gunners emerged with more impetuous. With 47 minutes on the clock Santi Cazorla found Oxlade-Chamberlain with a beautiful pass and the 20-year old wasted no time in chipping the ball in to the net, giving Arsenal the lead and control over the top of the Premier League.

However, with Palace always looking capable of scoring it seemed that a second goal would be needed. Luckily it came on the 73minutes when a neat passage of play between the selfless Oliver Giroud and Oxlade-Chamberlain resulted in the midfielder running clear of the Palace defence and slotting the ball past the flailing Speroni.

Arsenal´s Premier League pursuit suffered a setback as the Gunners were held to a 2-2 draw against a dogged Southampton away from home. Even though it was an away point gained, Arsenal can now fall off the top spot tomorrow if Manchester City beat Tottenham at White Hart Lane.

Arsene Wenger will be disappointed with the way his team started the match, with a lethargic pace that gave Southampton an early confidence boost. It has been a difficult week for the Saints but the club rallied well by starting the first half in style, passing the ball with confidence and keeping possession. The good football was producing openings too as teenage debutant Sam Gallagher lashed a shot at the hands of Wojciech Szczesny in the Arsenal goal.

The Arsenal players were lacking their usual slick passing and tempo and it was only a matter of time before Southampton took the lead. On the 21^st minute the hugely impressive Luke Shaw sent in a cross that was met by Jose Fonte at the back post to head home. The player has had a troubled week after being involved in a training ground bust up with Dani Osvaldo, but the Portuguese defender beat Nacho Monreal to give the Saints a 1-0 lead.

The hosts continued to press throughout the first 45 minutes and went close on several other occasions; including Gallagher´s reaching shot going just wide. Indeed, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was likely pleased to only be trailing by a single goal as the whistle blew for halftime.

The Frenchman´s halftime team talk seemed to do the trick as Arsenal came out for the second half with more fluid possession. With the fluency back the players leveled the match on the 48th minute when Bacary Sagna sent a low driving shot into the box, where it was met by Oliver Giroud who grabbed his ninth league goal of the season.

A barnstorming start to the second half continued on the 52^nd minute when Santi Cazorla kept up his recent good form with a delightful left footed strike that beat Southampton keeper Artur Boruc to give Arsenal a 2-1 lead.

The drama continued two minutes later as Arsenal failed to hold onto their lead. Jay Rodriguez was released down the left flank and picked out Adam Lallana, who then sent a shot through Szczesny´s legs to tie the score at 2-2. Both teams continued to seek the win in a high temp finale, but neither could find the winning goal as Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini claimed a straight red card for a late lunge on Morgan Schneiderlin.