Arsenal moved clear at the top of the Premier League with a rare 1-0 win at Liverpool, with Kai Havertz scoring the only goal in the first half. It was Arsenal’s first Premier League win at Anfield in 14 years.
Manager Mikel Arteta was Arsenal’s captain the last time the Gunners won at Liverpool, a 2-0 victory in 2012. Since then, they had made 16 unsuccessful trips to Anfield in all competitions before Sunday’s result.
Arsenal produced a defensive display to repel wave after wave of Liverpool attacks and secure a historic result.
Bouncing back from Fleetwood
Arsenal arrived at Anfield after a humbling defeat to League Two side Fleetwood Town in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday. Arteta said he believed that loss in Lancashire could motivate his players to produce a historic result at Liverpool.
“Extremely proud. It’s been 14 years, that’s a long time,” Arteta said after the game.
“I’m sure we made everybody attached to the club extremely proud today. Not only for the victory but for the way we’ve done it, the spirit we’ve shown.
“Especially considering what happened four days ago when you lose and go out of the cup against a team you are supposed to beat. That’s the magical part of this game, it can take you to really bad places but four days later you have the opportunity to do something really historic and we’ve done it.
“Overall, to win against a team that is producing what they are doing, and also in the emotional state after Fleetwood, that’s what a winning team should do.”
Before the match, centre-back Gabriel had said Arsenal expected a “big battle” and “big chaos” against Liverpool. He was right. After taking the lead, Arsenal were pinned back before the break. The second half was calmer, but Arsenal still defended resolutely and did not allow Liverpool a single shot on target.
Arsenal go top
Arsenal have kept six clean sheets this season and now sit three points clear at the top of the table after nine games. Their 24 points are the most by any team after nine games of a season since Arsenal themselves in 2022-23. Only in the 2004-05 and 2007-08 seasons have they had more at this stage of a Premier League campaign.
“It means a lot to our football club,” Havertz said after the win.
“It’s been 13 games [in the Premier League without a win here], its a crazy stat and it’s what the fans deserve. We are happy we gave them that.”
The win was also Arsenal’s first Premier League clean sheet at Anfield since 2012.
Declan Rice, who assisted Havertz’s goal, praised the team’s resilience.
“That is the Anfield way, that is what this Liverpool team can do, this is what this stadium does to you,” Rice said. “It just creates waves and waves of attack.
“We’ve not won here in 14 years. It was relentless attacks but in the end that way we stuck together, that togetherness we have is undefeated. It’s nothing like I’ve ever seen before.”
Rice has been one of Arsenal’s standout players this season and already has five Premier League assists.
Title defence and key challenges
Arsenal are two points better off after nine games than they were last season, when they won the title. The attack, however, has not yet found its rhythm, having scored just 14 league goals in nine games.
Arteta has limited options up front. Bukayo Saka is injured, 16-year-old Max Dowman is suspended after his red card at Fleetwood, Christos Tzolis is just back from a hamstring injury, and Viktor Gyokeres and Havertz are both struggling for form.
The defence, though, remains elite. Arsenal conceded only 27 goals across the back four last season, and this performance suggests they could again be the difference.
“I’m extremely proud; this is something you want to accomplish,” Arteta said when asked what the win meant to him.
“That’s the challenge and mission you want to accomplish. I love it when it’s something we have not done for many years.
“It was the same with Chelsea away and Manchester United away. To be able to beat all those, that’s the purpose and motivation and why we do what we do.”
Manchester City are second in the table, but their position is uncertain while they await the outcome of their appeal against charges for breaching Premier League financial rules. With several of the league’s other big sides in a period of transition, Arsenal could build a healthy lead at the top if they maintain this form.