Dying European dreams: Arsenal add to Liverpool's woe

Arsenal overcame a sloppy start to compound an already bad week for Champions League chasing Liverpool.

The Reds needed a a result to keep them in the chase for the final spot currently held by Manchester United but were undone by a series of brilliant quick fire goals from Arsene Wenger's team.

Right back Hector Bellerin opened the scoring with a fine curling shot to the right of goalkeeper Mignolet who had until that point kept his team in the game with two fantastic saves while Sterling and Markovic had both fluffed chances at the opposite end.

Germany international Mesut Ozil doubled the lead before halftime with a fine freekick after a foul on Santi Cazorla before Arsenal's talisman Alexis Sanchez powered in a thunderous hot to make it 3 to end a woeful half for Brendan Rodgers' charges.

The second half saw a more dynamic Liverpool as Daniel Sturridge was introduced .Raheem sterling was fouled for Henderson to convert to give Liverpool a lift but after a red card to Emre Can after a second yellow card,it was truly over for them before Giroud added a fourth to take Arsenal into second place.