LONDON -- For many observers, Arsenal needed to beat a major rival to prove its worthiness as a title contender in the English Premier League. The team responded with a thrilling performance and two superb individual goals from Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey, beating Liverpool 2-0 and moving five points clear at the top of the table on Saturday. Cazorlas goal to open the scoring was a symbol of Arsenals determination and resolve to prove their critics wrong. Mikel Arteta released Bacary Sagna down the right in the 19th minute and the full backs excellent cross was headed firmly onto the post by Cazorla. The Spanish midfielder didnt give up, collecting the rebound and volleying into the upper left corner. Arsenal sealed the victory in the 59th when Ramsey received a clipped pass from Mesut Ozil, dribbled forward and patiently waited for the ball to bounce up in front of him before unleashing a thunderous shot that dipped over the outstretched hand of Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet. "It was an important win for the team, for the club," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. "I dont think anyone will dispute we deserved to win today." The match was a big test for Arsenal because critics believed the team moved to the league summit against relatively easy opposition. Liverpool was in second place going into the match and now sits third, behind Chelsea on an inferior goal difference. In their previous two home games, the Gunners faced strong opposition and lost both games -- to Borrussia Dortmund in the Champions League group stage and to Chelsea in the League Cup. After those defeats, some said Arsenal would wither against its main rivals like Liverpool. "We needed to respond today," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. "It was important to convince people that you can win the big games and to do in a convincing fashion." Wenger was especially pleased with the clean sheet and how the team defended, shutting down the dangerous strike partnership of Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge. "Our defensive performance was outstanding," he said. Arsenals league form has been stellar since losing the opening match to Aston Villa, with the London club winning eight and drawing one. Up until Cazorlas goal, the teams were engaged in a midfield battle and neither gained a foothold in front of 60,000 spectators at Emirates Stadium. Liverpool pressed high up the pitch, but Arsenal managed to stifle the visitors rhythm and was content to build from the back. Cazorlas goal invigorated Arsenal and the home team began to surge forward. The midfielder nearly scored a second but a flying save from Mignolet denied him. Sturridge had the only meaningful chance of the first half for the visitors, but his weak, 20-yard shot was easily caught by Wojciech Szczesny. But Liverpool started the second half brightly, with Suarez creating danger on several occasions. Liverpool had a chance for a late consolation goal, but Suarez chose to shoot across the face of goal instead of setting up strike partner Sturridge at the far post and the Uruguayans effort missed. "It was a game they (Arsenal) deserved to win," Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said. "They had the greater control. Were disappointed with the two goals we conceded." Rodgers only grievance was a chance in the first half. Suarez took a quick free kick after being fouled by Sagna, which released Sturridge, who crossed to Jordan Henderson for an easy tap-in. But the referee disallowed the goal, pulled play back and cautioned Sagna. The Liverpool manager spoke after the match with the referee, who told him he had to stop play to book Sagna. "I dont agree with it, but overall I thought the referee did a good job," Rodgers said. Arsenals next two fixtures are tough ones, away matches against Dortmund and Manchester United. Midfielder Jack Wilshere missed Saturdays match with an inflamed ankle and it wasnt clear if he would be ready for Wednesdays clash against Dortmund. Liverpool was missing right back Glen Johnson. He had to pull out of the match about a half hour before the team was to be named and was taken to a hospital with an unspecified illness, Rodgers said. Malcolm Jenkins Jersey .ca NHL Power Rankings, finally overtaking the St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks, who rank second and third this week. Nate Gerry Jersey . Woods said Friday that his charity event, which attracts a world-class field even without being part of any tour, will move in December 2014 to Isleworth, the course where he honed his professional game from 1996 until moving away to south Florida two years ago. http://www.officialphiladelphiaeaglesfoo...s-jersey-womens. -- Derek Jeter says the New York Yankees have no choice but to move forward now that Alex Rodriguez has accepted his suspension for the 2014 season. Timmy Jernigan Jersey . - A Tuesday funeral is planned in Toronto for 20-year-old Saginaw Spirit forward Terry Trafford. Seth Joyner Jersey .com) - The Buffalo Bills will return to the friendly confines of Ralph Wilson Stadium on Sunday when they welcome the upstart Cleveland Browns to town.CALGARY - New Calgary Flames general manager Brad Treliving said last week he was in the market for a defenceman with a right-handed shot. He got one Tuesday, along with added insurance in net and some offence up front to replace the departing Mike Cammalleri. Calgary came to terms with tough defenceman Deryk Engelland, who received a significant pay raise in a three-year deal worth US$2.9 million per year. Engellands salary with Pittsburgh last season was $575,000. The Flames also signed local winger Mason Raymond to a three-year, $9.5-million deal and Swiss goaltender Jonas Hiller to a two-year, $9-million contract. "The term was very important for us," Treliving said Tuesday. "We wanted to keep things three years and under, which weve done on all these contracts. "Term in a cap system is what strangles you. You see a lot of long-term deals bought out." Calgary has money to spend under the salary cap and closed in on the cap floor of $51 million Tuesday. The maximum is set at $69 million. The Flames have missed the playoffs five straight seasons. The 32-year-old Cammalleri didnt re-sign with the Flames, despite Calgarys efforts to keep him in the flaming C. Treliving said the Flames offered the forward "significant dollars", but the term "was probably not going to work." Cammalleri entered the free agent market Tuesday and quickly emerged with a five-year, $25-million deal with the New Jersey Devils. Cammalleri had a team-high 26 goals as well as 19 assists in 63 games for the Flames in 2013-14. Hell provide much needed scoring punch to the Devils, who had a winning record despite being one of three NHL teams to score less than 200 goals. "The real decision-making was, the hard decision was leaving Calgary the way I had been treated there and their efforts to keep me around," Cammalleri said during a conference call. "Some of my closest friends are in management in Calgary. They made every effort to try and make it work. It was more a decision for me, a decision on where I wanted to be playing and where I wanted to have a chance to compete and win." Raymond posted 19 goals, 26 assists and 22 penalty minutes in 82 games for Toronto. The 28-year-old grew up in nearby Cochrane, Alta. The six-foot, 185-pound left-winger also received a sizable raise from the Flames after making $1 million on a one-year deal with the Maple Leafs. Raymond was drafted in the second round by the Vancouver Canucks in 2005 and has a career 99 goals and 124 assists in 456 games. "When Mike went away, we felt we needed an NHL player in there,&" Treliving said.dddddddddddd "I liked the term Mason came in at, I like the versatility. I think he can do a bunch of different jobs and we thought he just fit for us." Hiller posted a 29-13-7 record and five shutouts for Anaheim in 2013-14. The 32-year-olds goals-against average was 2.47 and his save percentage .911. He spent the previous seven seasons with the Ducks and has twice represented Switzerland at the Winter Olympics. Current Flames hockey operations president Brian Burke was Anaheims GM when he signed Hiller in 2007. But Hillers time in Anaheim appeared to be winding down with the emergence of John Gibson and Frederik Andersen this spring. "Obviously Brian has a familiarity. He signed Jonas to Anaheim when he came over from Switzerland," Treliving said. "You look at Anaheims situation last year and at periods of time obviously there were some struggles if you will for Jonas. But there were some periods of brilliance as hes had over his career. "This is a good NHL goaltender. It is the most important position on the team. Without goaltending you have no chance." Hillers salary with the Flames remains the same with a cap hit of $4.5 million annually. The Flames currently have 28-year-old Karri Ramo, with a year remaining on his contract, and prospect Joni Ortio in net. Ramo went 17-15 for Calgary last season. "I dont want to leave Karri Ramo out of the conversation here," Treliving said. "Weve made ourselves deeper at the position. Weve now got competition in the net. "Weve got a goaltender who finished the season strongly here in Karri and weve got a guy who has been a proven goaltender in the league." Engelland, six foot two and 220 pounds, spent the last five seasons with the Penguins. The 32-year-old had six goals and six assists in 56 games this past season. "The price tag on Deryk, obviously its going to get talked about understandably," Treliving said. "We have work to do on the blue-line. We have work to do in terms adding to our reserve list on the blue-line. "As much as we like what Deryks going to bring to us, its also buying time until we can go out and acquire those players, draft those players, procure those players in some manner. "Ours was not the only call to Deryk Engelland. Based on our situation, based on the flexibility we had, we felt its a very fair price and a price worth paying, knowing the type of person were getting." Note to readers: This is a corrected story. An earlier version reported that Engellands deal was for two years. 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