Diaby 71

A 71^st minute Abou Diaby header gave Arsenal a hard-won but merited victory against a defensive-minded Liverpool, who nonetheless nearly snatched a point when substitute Ryan Babel hit the crossbar late on.

Diaby was left unmarked in the six-yard box to powerfully head home Tomas Rosicky’s right-wing cross and finally break Liverpool’s stout resistance.

But the visitors came within inches of a point five minutes from time, Babel cracking a fierce drive from over 20 yards which Arsenal keeper Manuel Almunia fingertipped onto the crossbar.

And Liverpool players were left arguing with referee Howard Webb at the final whistle after Steven Gerrard’s on-target free-kick in the last seconds of second-half stoppage time struck Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas on his raised hand as he stood on the edge of the defensive wall just outside the box.

Such drama was overdue as Liverpool successfully stifled Arsenal, making the first-half a non-event.

William Gallas headed badly over when well-placed on six minutes and Nicklas Bendtner fired wildly over in the 25^th minute.

The goalkeepers were finally worked after the break, Almunia tipping Lucas’s firmly struck 48^th minute drive over the bar and Pepe Reina denying both Bendtner and Rosicky before Diaby’s decisive finish.