Arsenal fought back from two goals down to rescue a valuable 2-2 draw against Liverpool as the Gunners moved a step closer to qualifying for the Champions League on Sunday.

Mikel Arteta’s side trailed to first-half goals from Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz at Anfield.

But Gabriel Martinelli reduced the deficit before Mikel Merino grabbed the visitors’ equaliser.

Although Merino was sent off for a second booking with 11 minutes left, Arsenal clung on for a vital point in the battle for a top-five finish in the Premier League.

Second-placed Arsenal sit five points clear of sixth-placed Aston Villa.

They face a crucial clash with third-placed Newcastle at the Emirates Stadium next week before travelling to relegated Southampton on the last day of the season.

With a vastly superior goal difference to all their top-five rivals, Arsenal should need just one more point to secure a Champions League berth despite winning only one of their last six league games.

What we did in the first half is nowhere near the level… that is not acceptable,” Arteta said.

“When the team plays like this, that’s on me. No one accepts those standards. It has to hurt a lot.”

Trent Alexander-Arnold was dropped to the bench by Liverpool boss Arne Slot, just days after the Merseyside-born England right-back confirmed he will leave Anfield when his contract expires in June.

Widely expected to join Real Madrid, Alexander-Arnold was replaced by Conor Bradley.

Alexander-Arnold’s decision has divided Liverpool fans and he was booed by some sections of the crowd when he came on in the second half, with jeers accompanying his every touch after his introduction.

“For the fans, they can always have the reaction they want, but I will always back the players I lead and the ones that wear the red shirt. I will back them no matter what,” Slot said.

What could have been a dramatic title decider had become irrelevant to champions Liverpool after they wrapped up their record-equalling 20th English crown two weeks ago.