The tension was still sky-high around the Emirates Stadium as the game restarted after Mohamed Salah's 49th-minute goal. Liverpool was now leading Arsenal against Arsenal by a score of 2-0, an away triumph seeming imminent.
The away Liverpool fans were even already singing in full voice, the familiar strains of "You'll Never Walk Alone" cascading through the chilly London evening. For Arsenal, however, the uphill battle had just become more challenging. As for Liverpool, the comfort of a two-goal lead brought with it a dangerous temptation: to relax.
The game then continued, and from the 53rd minute, the shift in Liverpool's intensity was subtle but noticeable.
The relentless pressing that had defined Liverpool's first-half dominance, of course, waned slightly. The front three of Salah, Sadio Mané, and Roberto Firmino weren't making their usual darting runs, while the defensive midfield duo of Fabinho and James Milner began allowing Arsenal more time on the ball. As for Zachary, he was closely watched by Xhaka, who was doing a good job to ensure that he wasn't making much of an impact on the game.
Seeing the situation on the field of play, the sideline demeanor of Jürgen Klopp shifted as he saw his players starting to relax. He clapped and gestured furiously, trying to reignite his players. But his efforts didn't result in much as the creeping complacency had already set in.
Meanwhile, Arsenal, cheered on by a hopeful home crowd, grew in confidence by the second. Their passes became sharper, and their movements grew more fluid. Mesut Özil, their enigmatic playmaker, began to find pockets of space to orchestrate attacks while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette, Arsenal's deadly forwards, prowled Liverpool's backline like predators.
The warning signs were clearly there as the game progressed, and in the 57th minute, Aubameyang tested Alisson Becker with a curling shot from the edge of the box, forcing the Brazilian keeper into a full-stretch save. Although Arsenal failed to score, the move still ignited the team spirit of the Gunners.
Arsenal then began to move with a more patient build-up from their backline during the next minutes, with Rob Holding and Shkodran Mustafi exchanging passes and drawing Liverpool's forward players out of position.
With no immediate and effective pressing, Lucas Torreira quickly found space in midfield to collect the ball and pivot. The Uruguayan, who was already a tenacious presence in the game, spotted Özil making a darting run through the center. Without hesitation, he threaded a pass into Özil's path.
Özil's touch was as sublime as ever. With a deft turn, he left Fabinho behind, eliciting gasps from the crowd. Özil then slid a perfectly weighted through ball to Aubameyang, who had peeled off Trent Alexander-Arnold on the left wing. The Gabonese forward then wasted no time, whipping a wicked cross into the box.
Unfortunately for Liverpool, Joe Gomez, the usually composed Liverpool center-back, lost sight of Lacazette for a split second—just enough time for the French striker to pounce.
Rising above the Liverpool defender, Lacazette met the ball with a thunderous header, sending it soaring towards the top right corner. Alisson, the Liverpool goalkeeper, tried to block the effort, but his efforts were just short by a few inches. The net rippled, and the Emirates erupted.
"And Arsenal are back in it!" the commentator roared as the figures on the Jumbotron flashed and changed to reflect the new score. "A killer cross from Aubameyang and Lacazette with a textbook header to bring the Gunners back into the game just before the hour-mark. It's now 2-1, and we've got a contest on our hands!"
As Lacazette sprinted to retrieve the ball from the back of the net, the urgency in Arsenal's body language was clear. They were hungry for more, their belief reignited.
With the referee's whistle, the game onec again restarted. The Arsenal players quickly continued applying all the pressure as they pushed forward relentlessly.
The Arsenal fans, buoyed by Alexandre Lacazette's earlier goal, roared with renewed hope. The Gunners were obviously already smelling blood as they moved the ball with purpose, their build-ups repeatedly made lethal by Mesut Özil's artistry in midfield.
Meanwhile, Liverpool, defending their slim 2-1 lead, were forced into a tight, disciplined shape, constantly absorbing the pressure. Jurgen Klopp paced the sideline, a picture of controlled intensity.
Sensing the danger Arsenal posed, Klopp, Liverpool's coach, soon sprang into action. He gestured toward Fabinho, signaling the substitution. As the substitution board went up, the Brazilian midfielder jogged off, replaced by captain Jordan Henderson. Klopp grabbed Henderson and Zachary for a brief but crucial tactical discussion.
"Zach, listen," Klopp said, his voice barely audible over the stadium's din. "Stay defensive for now. But when they overcommit, find that gap. One chance. One break. That's all we need to end this game." Zachary nodded, his steely determination reflecting in his sharp eyes.
The game then restarted, and Henderson's entry into the game brought immediate energy to Liverpool's midfield. His presence added a fresh layer of discipline, a shield for the backline as the visitors weathered Arsenal's relentless assault for the next few minutes.
But all the Liverpool efforts did very little to curb the growing relentlessness of the Gunners, who were now continuously dictating the tempo. The passes of all the Arsenal players were crisp, their movement fluid as they probed Liverpool's defense for an opening.
In particular, Granit Xhaka and Lucas Torreira marshaled the midfield well, recycling possession and pushing their teammates higher up the pitch. Özil, darting between the lines, looked for every opportunity to carve open Liverpool's defense.
In the 81st minute, Arsenal nearly found their equalizer. Xhaka, spotting a sliver of space, unleashed a venomous strike from 25 yards out. The ball flew like a rocket toward the top corner, and time seemed to slow as Alisson Becker, Liverpool's stalwart between the posts, leaped acrobatically. With an outstretched hand, he parried the ball away, sending it inches over the crossbar.
The Emirates roared in frustration while the Liverpool fans behind the goal erupted in applause for their keeper. Alisson's save was world-class, a timely reminder of why Klopp had splashed a record fee for the Brazilian the previous summer.
Arsenal then wasted no time setting up the resulting corner. Özil quickly stood over the ball, scanning the penalty area packed with players from both sides. The German playmaker then sent a wickedly curling delivery toward the penalty spot.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Arsenal's lightning-quick forward, leaped above his marker, meeting the ball with a thumping header. His technique and timing were immaculate, and everyone watching could tell that it was a great attempt from Aubameyang.
However, the ball ricocheted off James Milner's shoulder, and then crashed against the crossbar. The stadium held its breath as the ball bounced back into the box. A chaotic melee ensued. Lacazette lunged, Van Dijk stretched, and Arsenal's Bellerín swung a leg—all in vain.
Suddenly, Andrew Robertson appeared seemingly out of the blue, smashing the ball clear with a thunderous boot. The clearance soared into the evening sky, spinning end over end. The ball hung momentarily, glinting under the stadium lights before beginning its descent near Arsenal's half.
Right on cue, Sead Kolašinac, Arsenal's left-back, tracked the ball, his eyes locked on its trajectory. But just as the ball descended, a streak of purple flashed past him. It was Zachary, who had begun sprinting the moment Robertson launched the clearance. His blazing speed turned what seemed like a harmless clearance into a lethal opportunity for Liverpool.
Zachary reached the ball just before it hit the ground, chesting it forward in stride. Kolašinac scrambled to recover, but it was too late. Zachary had already streaked past, the green expanse of the pitch unfolding like a savanna before him.
The Emirates fell into a tense hush as Zachary surged forward, initiating a one-man counterattack. Arsenal's keeper, Bernd Leno, sprinted off his line, attempting to close the gap. But Zachary, composed beyond his years, feinted left before effortlessly rounding the keeper.
With an open goal before him, he struck the ball into the net with clinical precision. The away fans erupted in a frenzy as Zachary wheeled away, arms outstretched, before sliding on his knees toward the corner flag. His teammates mobbed him, their celebrations a mix of relief and elation.
"That's it! Zachary has done it again! He has scored Liverpool's 3rd goal during the 83rd minute" the commentator bellowed. "Liverpool lead 3-1, and Arsenal's hopes are dashed! What a moment from the young star!"
On the touchline, Klopp celebrated with his trademark exuberance, fist-pumping toward the Liverpool fans. The German tactician had called for a counterattack, and Zachary had delivered it with devastating precision.