Arsenal stretched their lead at the top to five points with a deserved victory over Liverpool marked by power and discipline in defence as much as virtuosity in attack.

After a thunderous opening — nothing to do with fireworks — which saw loose balls in midfield gobbled up by both sides, adrenalin gave way to subtlety.

The opening goal was the stuff of pure playground dreams. Bacary Sagna swung in a teasing cross for Santi Cazorla whose header crashed back off the post. The little Spaniard was first to the rebound and lashed the ball into the net.

That breakthrough on 20 minutes was the cue for the slick passing which has been the hallmark of the Gunners’ season. Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud moving the ball around with beguiling ease.

Liverpool, who had Glen Johnson hospitalised before kick-off with what Brendan Rodgers described as “a medical issue, nothing major,” were restricted to free-kicks and long-range efforts. Even when through on goal the visitors, third in the table, were undone by marginal offsides.

The inventive Philippe Coutinho appeared at the start of the second period for Aly Cissokho. This helped to a degree with Luis Suarez seeing more of the ball, notably crossing for Jordan Henderson who could only shoot over from 10 yards.

The momentum was changed again when Martin Skrtel was caught napping on 54 minutes by the onrushing Giroud, who then saw his scooped shot sail wide. It mattered not for Ozil, who then teed up Ramsey. The Welshman scored with a delicious half-volley, taking his goal tally for the season to 10.

Arsenal were rampant for much of the remaining half hour, though Suarez struck the base of the post with a splendid effort and then left his strike partner Daniel Sturridge exasperated by failing to pass with the former Chelsea man free inside the box.

It was a fractured little cameo which summed up their day. Rodgers, the Liverpool boss, did not seek to hide from the fact, saying that “the best team won, but we were always in the game.”

A satisfied Arsene Wenger described the victory as “important for the team and club” with Borussia Dortmund and Manchester United next up.

The win was, he said, something which would put his players “mentally in a better condition” for those crucial ties over the coming week.