Arsenal end 14-year wait for Premier League win at Anfield with Havertz strike
Arsenal beat Liverpool 1-0 at Anfield on Sunday to record their first Premier League victory there in 14 years, Kai Havertz scoring the only goal in the first half.
Manager Mikel Arteta had said before the match: "Today has to be the day." Arteta was captain the last time Arsenal won at Liverpool, a 2-0 Premier League win in 2012, and the club had endured 16 unsuccessful trips in all competitions until Sunday's result. The Gunners travelled to Anfield after an embarrassing loss to League Two Fleetwood Town in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday, a defeat Arteta suggested could galvanise his side.
Havertz's first-half finish was set up by Declan Rice and proved decisive as Arsenal were pressed for long spells, particularly before the interval. The visitors defended stoutly in the second half and did not allow Liverpool a shot on target, keeping their first Premier League clean sheet at Anfield since 2012 and their sixth clean sheet of the season.
Arteta reflected on the result after the match, saying: "Extremely proud. It's been 14 years, that's a long time. 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 kick-off centre-back Gabriel had warned of a "big battle" and "big chaos" against Liverpool, and Rice — who provided Havertz's assist — described the atmosphere and pressure at Anfield in detail: "That is the Anfield way, that is what this Liverpool team can do, this is what this stadium does to you. 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."
The result leaves Arsenal three points clear at the top of the table after nine games, with 24 points — the most by any team after nine games of a season since the Gunners themselves in 2022-23 and exceeded only by Arsenal totals in 2004-05 and 2007-08 at this stage. The side have scored 14 league goals in nine games, and Arteta has had limited attacking options with Bukayo Saka out injured, 16-year-old Max Dowman suspended after his red card at Fleetwood, Christos Tzolis just back from a hamstring injury, and Viktor Gyokeres and Havertz both struggling for form. Arteta said: "I'm extremely proud; this is something you want to accomplish. That's the challenge and mission you want to accomplish. I love it when it's something we have not done for many years."
Manchester City sit second and are "waiting to find out what happens, pending their appeal, following their charge for breaching the Premier League financial rules." Declan Rice has assisted five goals in the Premier League this season, more than any other player.
