Arsenal cling to 1-0 win at Anfield as Kai Havertz’s close-range finish decides Premier League contest
Arsenal beat Liverpool 1-0 at Anfield in a Premier League match on 1 November 2026 after Kai Havertz scored from close range, and the visitors held on as Virgil van Dijk was booked for sarcastically applauding referee Andy Madley at full-time.
Arsenal’s victory drew on experience accumulated last season, with the team showing a composed, controlling display that the Guardian described as ‘ruthless’ and rooted in the champions’ knowhow. Mikel Arteta was noted to have been in midfield for Arsenal’s previous win at Anfield in September 2012, though his recollection is affected by the concussion he sustained in a collision with Jordan Henderson. The result also delivered Kai Havertz’s first goal in ten appearances and was framed as a boost to Arteta’s stated focus on retaining the league title.
Liverpool began the game with energy and physicality, the Kop reacting angrily when they felt Arsenal players were quick to go to ground. Trey Nyoni, making his full league debut at 19, made early robust challenges on Martin Ødegaard and Havertz and avoided a yellow card for those interventions. Liverpool appealed for penalties during the first half, most notably when Jurriën Timber grabbed a handful of Alexander Isak’s shirt on 21 minutes, an incident Timber escaped punishment for.
The match’s sole goal stemmed from a Liverpool error when Alisson’s short pass intended for Jérémy Jacquet was misplayed; Martin Ødegaard intercepted and the move progressed down Arsenal’s right. Declan Rice delivered a low cross across the six-yard corridor and Havertz had the tap-in that proved decisive. Earlier in the half Florian Wirtz’s free-kick struck the crossbar and Alexis Mac Allister then missed a headed chance from Milos Kerkez’s cross in the 43rd minute.
Arsenal had moments on the break in the first half, with Havertz narrowly missing a touch to Bruno Guimarães’s cross-cum-shot and Timber unable to react when Noni Madueke volleyed Christos Tzolis’s return from an acute angle. At 1-0 the visitors managed the game in the way they preferred, looking to keep Liverpool at arm’s length and frustrate Andoni Iraola and his players. Iraola introduced Dominik Szoboszlai for Nyoni on 59 minutes, and Nyoni received a strong ovation as he left the field.
A slip by Jacquet in the 68th minute allowed Christos Tzolis a sight of goal with Alisson out of position, but Jacquet recovered to make a crucial intervention and Tzolis later forced an excellent save from Alisson with a first-time effort aimed at the far corner. The longer the second half progressed the more Arsenal appeared able to stifle Liverpool’s attacking invention, and they retained the composure to look for counter opportunities. The home crowd’s frustrations grew as Arsenal accumulated free-kicks, prompting further protests from Liverpool players.
Late tensions included Mac Allister contesting a free-kick he believed was won cheaply by Ødegaard; in the subsequent melee Mac Allister felt Madueke initiated a touch of foreheads while Madueke was already on a booking for a foul on Bradley Barcola. Madueke remained on the field and was not sent off, an outcome the report described as "an awfully soft dismissal" if it had occurred. Liverpool’s five-match winning streak in all competitions came to a shuddering halt as they failed to find a decisive response.
The result sent Arsenal back to London having secured a vital Premier League victory, with the performance presented in the report as an occasion that strengthened Mikel Arteta’s hopes of retaining the league title.
