It had looked as though Liverpool would earn a deserved point when Luis Garcia equalized Henry's opener in the 75th minute. But things started to go wrong when first Xabi Alonso was sent off for two bookable offences and then Henry capitalised on a defensive lapse to make it 2-1.

The Reds came to Highbury today looking to rid themselves of the gloom of getting knocked out of the Champions League and increase the likelihood of a top four finish. But they will have known to expect a tough task at a venue where they haven't won since a Titi Camara goal gave them a 1-0 win in 2000.

Rafa Benitez made three changes to the side that lost to Benfica on Wednesday with Sami Hyypia fit enough to return and Jan Kromkamp and Dietmar Hamann coming in to replace Harry Kewell and Fernando Morientes. And the Reds started with Steven Gerrard supporting lone striker Peter Crouch, a formation that has delivered results in recent times.

When the game started it was Arsenal who threatened first and their clever passing meant that the Reds defence had to be on their toes from the first whistle. We'd had just 8 minutes when Adebayor wasted an excellent chance created for him by Henry, but it was clear that the Gunners were in the mood to give us many more nervous moments.

The home side were forced to make an early enforced change when Pires replaced the injured Ljungberg after 15 minutes. But more encouraging for Liverpool was that the substitution was preceded by their first real attack when Garcia only just failed to connect with Warnock's cross when 6 yards out.

A period of good Liverpool passing followed that chance, but just when we thought they were gaining a grip on the game, Arsenal took the lead through Thierry Henry. It came when Fabregas fed a precise ball through the Reds defence giving Henry, who had drifted onto the left, the chance to stroll into the area and beat Reina with a fine curling shot from 12 yards.

It was a hammer blow for the Reds, but to their credit they didn't let their heads drop and they would go in at half time disappointed not to be level. Their best chance came in the 30th minute when Finnan's cross found Crouch free in the area, but his header flashed wide with Jens Lehman scrambling across his goal.

The Reds were in danger of going further behind soon after when Eboue dribbled through and forced a hasty and dangerous clearance from Finnan. But Liverpool would finish the first half strongest when Garcia, Alonso and Gerrard all went close.

There was controversy right at the start of the second half when Garcia went down under challenge when running through, but the Reds were in great danger again just moments later when Henry put his shot agonisingly wide when one on one with Reina.

And in what must have been starting to feel like a recurring nightmare for the Reds keeper, Reina was again eyeball to eyeball with Henry in the 53rd minute, only this time he won the battle wits when saving Henry's shot low to his left.

Liverpool's response was excellent though and they would launch a period of superiority that would lead to them scoring a deserved equalizer through Luis Garcia in the 75th minute.

Garcia was the hero of Liverpool's 1-0 win over Arsenal at Anfield just weeks ago and he was the toast of Liverpudlians again today when he reacted first to head home after Jens Lehman had only been able to parry Steven Gerrard's fierce drive.

But just when we thought the Reds had done enough to earn a point things quickly began to wrong. It started with the controversial sending off of Xabi Alonso for two bookable offences and before Liverpool could reshape, Theirry Henry intercepted Gerrard's back-pass and scored after rounding Reina to make it 2-1.

It took the intervention of a post and a great save from Pepe Reina to keep it at 2-1 in the dying minutes, but Liverpool will leave Highbury for the last time perhaps thinking they haven't got the rewards their efforts deserved.