sport news 10 years ago, Andrey Arshavin ended Liverpool's title hopes

Disbelief. Sheer disbelief is etched across Andrey Arshavin's face as he wags four fingers at the Arsenal fans going berserk in the Anfield Road End.

The Russian's fourth shot on goal has been buried into the back of Pepe Reina's net and Liverpool's quest for a 19th league title has been punctured.

Arshavin has four after racing from the edge of his own 18-yard box to Liverpool's and thumping home from Theo Walcott's breakaway.

It is 10 years since Andrey Arshavin stunned Anfield with a four-goal display for Arsenal

It is 10 years since Andrey Arshavin stunned Anfield with a four-goal display for Arsenal

Arshavin scored with each of Arsenal's four shots on target in an incredible 4-4 draw

Arshavin scored with each of Arsenal's four shots on target in an incredible 4-4 draw

The Russian's intervention effectively ended Liverpool's hopes of a 19th league title in 2009

The Russian's intervention effectively ended Liverpool's hopes of a 19th league title in 2009

Yossi Benayoun has the last word, bundling home deep into five minutes of added time to rescue a point for the home side, but the damage has already been done.

The spoils are shared, but Arshavin is the only victor on that astonishing night at Anfield 10 years ago.

Liverpool's wait for a first Premier League triumph would go on, and indeed it still is 10 years later.

It was already beginning to look like a tall order for Rafa Benitez to restore Liverpool's place at the summit of English football. They could afford no slip-ups.

Manchester United had a one-point lead at the top and a game in hand with five to go after Arsenal's trip to Merseyside on April 21, 2009.

Liverpool had won five on the spin, including a 4-1 rout at Old Trafford, while United had been teetering.

Federico Macheda's late winners against Aston Villa and Sunderland halted a run of two straight defeats.

After sharing an eight-goal thriller with Chelsea in the Champions League a week earlier, Liverpool fans could be forgiven for expecting an easier ride when Arsenal rode into town.

Arshavin had other ideas. 

Arshavin finished off an intricate team move with his shot going in off the crossbar for the first

Arshavin finished off an intricate team move with his shot going in off the crossbar for the first

ARSHAVIN vs LIVERPOOL  Arshavin 21/04/2009 Minutes Played 90 Goals 4 Shots 4 Shots on Target 4 Dribbles Completed 4 Chances Created 2 Touches 52 Passes 26 Passing Accuracy 76.92
ARSENAL'S OTHER ATTACKING PLAYERS  Player Samir Nasri Cesc Fabregas Nicklas Bendtner Minutes Played 90 90 89 Goals 0 0 0 Shots 1 1 0 Shots on Target 0 0 0 Dribbles Completed 3 0 0 Chances Created 0 2 0 Touches 69 68 54 Passes 42 51 42 Passing Accuracy 83.33 72.55 57.14

This was the night he truly announced himself, the night where he indelibly left his mark on English football. And yet that mark, besides a winning goal against Barcelona just under two years later, never stretched any further.

He was no stranger to fans in this country when he arrived for £15m in February 2009. It had been a move over six months in the making.

He was 27 and had the world at his feet when he returned from suspension to guide Russia into the quarter-finals at Euro 2008. He had already helped dump England out in the qualifying stage, and spearheaded Zenit St Petersburg's UEFA Cup triumph.

Then he masterminded the , as Russia surprised a rampant Holland in a thrilling 3-1 win in Basle.

Suitors across Europe stood up and took notice. Arshavin was desperate to move but was denied the opportunity of joining Barcelona as Zenit dug their heels in. 

It was seen as a coup for Arsene Wenger and Arsenal, as if their saviour had arrived gliding across the winds of winter. Fans gathered to meet him as snow enveloped North London and threatened to derail the transfer.

Arshavin robbed Alvaro Arbeloa of the ball and unleashed an unstoppable drive for his second

Arshavin robbed Alvaro Arbeloa of the ball and unleashed an unstoppable drive for his second

He returned a healthy two goals and five assists from his first seven starts. A slaloming solo strike against Blackburn was confirmation of his talent.

MATCH FACTS 

Liverpool: Reina, Arebloa, Carragher, Agger, Aurelio, Alonso, Mascherano, Benayoun, Kuyt (El Zhar 86), Riera (Babel 74), Torres

Subs not used: Cavalieri, Dossena, Lucas, Ngog, Skrtel

Goalscorers: Torres 49, 72, Benayoun 56, 90

Arsenal: Fabianski, Sagna, Toure, Silvestre, Gibbs, Arshavin, Song, Fabregas, Denilson (Walcott 65), Nasri, Bendtner (Diaby 90)

Subs not used: Mannone, Eduardo, Vela, Ramsey, Eboue

Goalscorer: Arshavin 36, 67, 70, 90

Booked: Sagna

Attendance 44,424

Referee: Howard Webb

But a trip to title-chasing Liverpool on a balmy April evening proved the occasion he was waiting for.

Benitez's side were on a roll and started like a train that night. The red shirts swamped those in yellow, despite the absence of Steven Gerrard through injury.

Fernando Torres, Albert Riera and Javier Mascherano all had shots from distance before Samir Nasri cleared a Daniel Agger header off the line.

Yet it was the visitors who drew first blood with 35 minutes on the clock.

Goal No 1. With flicks and tricks, Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas drew their way into the Liverpool area and an unmarked Arshavin stabbed home off the underside of the bar. 0-1.

Anfield was shaken, but Liverpool stirred straight back to life. They pepper Lukasz Fabianski's goal but to no avail. Four minutes into the second half and Torres plants a header from Dirk Kuyt's golf chip of a cross to level the scores. 1-1.

A clearance from Fabio Aurelio lands at Arshavin and his low shot completes the hat-trick

A clearance from Fabio Aurelio lands at Arshavin and his low shot completes the hat-trick

Anfield erupts and Liverpool pour forward. Kuyt provides another, floating a cross to the back post that a combination of Yossi Benayoun and Bacary Sagna claw over the line despite the best efforts of the keeper. 2-1.

Arshavin's touch map at Anfield in 2009

Arshavin's touch map at Anfield in 2009

Goal No 2. Alvaro Arbeloa is caught napping by Arshavin after a knock down from Jamie Carragher lands short. Agger fails to shut down the angle and Arshavin unleashes a rasping drive from 20 yards that bends into the far corner. 2-2.

Xabi Alonso races to get the ball out of the net but the hosts are rocking, their attacking zest betrayed by sloppy defensive errors. It is an uncharacteristic feature of Benitez-era Liverpool, but a natural consequence of the aggressive attacking style that had taken hold over the spring.

Goal No 3. Three minutes later and the hat-trick is complete. Nasri's cross is met by a lazy swish of the left foot from Fabio Aurelio. Arshavin needs just one touch to control before a low drive under the body of Reina. 2-3.

Liverpool respond within two minutes as Riera's fizzed cross to the edge of the area is instantly controlled by Torres, who swivels, makes room for the shot and powers it low into the corner. 3-3.

Arshavin has his fourth of the game after finishing a late breakaway from Theo Walcott

Arshavin has his fourth of the game after finishing a late breakaway from Theo Walcott

Nicklas Bendtner has a goal ruled out for offside. Torres has a header cleared off the line by Kieran Gibbs. Carragher volleys inches wide from the edge of the area.

Goal No 4. And as stoppage-time sets in, Arsenal break and Liverpool have only Alonso back. Theo Walcott emerges with the ball, and racing away like the Road Runner at the bottom of the screen is Arshavin. Within seconds the Gunners have a fourth; Arshavin has a fourth. 3-4.

And still Liverpool pile forward. Nabil El Zhar, on for Kuyt, stings the palms of Fabianski. In the 93rd minute Mascherano heads an Alonso ball across goal, Babel nods it down and Benayoun scuffs it into the net. 4-4.

Arsenal still find time to have another goal disallowed as Fabregas darts in on goal a fraction too soon. Liverpool want a penalty as they claim a handball from Abou Diaby. 

Howard Webb blows his whistle, only to end a helter-skelter game of football. 

Arshavin had 52 touches, made only 26 passes and scored with all four of his - and Arsenal's - shots on target. Every 13th touch was a goal.

Arsene Wenger leads the congratulations as the Arsenal players celebrate a stunning game

Arsene Wenger leads the congratulations as the Arsenal players celebrate a stunning game

He saw less of the ball than team-mates Nasri, Fabregas and Bendtner and made far fewer passes. He shaped the game without doing anything to shape it, except the most important thing of all; putting the round thing in the rectangular thing.

One point gained for Liverpool, but crucially two dropped. Reina sinks to his knees with his head in his gloves. Benayoun goes down on his haunches.

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