Arsenal moved clear at the top of the Premier League with a rare 1-0 win at Liverpool, their first victory at Anfield in the league in 14 years. Kai Havertz scored the only goal in the first half.
Manager Mikel Arteta was Arsenal captain the last time the Gunners won at Liverpool, a 2-0 victory in 2012. 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, delivering a historic win that Arteta’s side have built on in recent weeks.
The Gunners had suffered an embarrassing Carabao Cup exit to League Two side Fleetwood Town on Tuesday. Arteta said he believed that humbling defeat in Lancashire could spur his players on at Anfield.
“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 said Arsenal were expecting a “big battle” and “big chaos” against Liverpool. That prediction proved accurate. Arsenal were pinned back after taking the lead, but they defended resolutely in the second half, which was calmer, and did not allow Liverpool a shot on target.
Title push
Arsenal have kept six clean sheets this season and are now 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,” match winner Havertz said after the win.
“It’s been 13 games [in the Premier League without a win here], it’s a crazy stat and it’s what the fans deserve. We are happy we gave them that.”
It was also the first time Arsenal had kept a clean sheet at Anfield in the Premier League since 2012.
Declan Rice, who assisted Havertz’s goal, described the atmosphere at the ground.
“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 league assists.
Injury concerns
Arsenal are two points better off after nine games than they were at the same stage last season, when they won the title. Their attack, however, is not yet flowing. They have scored just 14 league goals in nine games.
Arteta has limited options in the forward line. Bukayo Saka is injured, 16-year-old Max Dowman is suspended after his red card at Fleetwood, Christos Tzolis has only just returned from a hamstring injury, and Viktor Gyokeres and Havertz are both struggling for form.
The defence, though, remains an elite unit. The back four conceded just 27 goals last season and, on this evidence, they could again be the difference for Arsenal.
“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 are awaiting the outcome of their appeal against their charge 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.