Mikel Arteta offers his reaction after he and Arsenal ended their long wait for a win at Anfield against Liverpool
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 01: Andoni Iraola, Manager of Liverpool and Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, embrace before the Premier League 2026/27 match between Liverpool FC and Arsenal FC at Anfield on November 01, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola and Mikel Arteta embrace before the Premier League match between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield (Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
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Mikel Arteta paid tribute to Liverpool and Andoni Iraola after leading Arsenal to their first victory at Anfield since 2012.
Kai Havertz’s only goal was the difference as the 1-0 victory saw the Gunners move top of the Premier League table to bounce back from their shock Carabao Cup exit at the hands of Fleetwood Town in midweek.
Liverpool failed to register a shot on target at Anfield for the first time in the Premier League since Opta records began back in 2003 despite piling plenty of pressure on the Gunners goal.
And Arteta was amazed that his side had limited the Reds in such a way as he revealed how much winning at Anfield meant to him.
READ MORE: Andoni Iraola to take drastic action after Liverpool penalty controversy - 'It's a shame'
“I want to give credit to Liverpool, the manner that they played, the way they are set up,” he said. “To Andoni and what they're doing because they are a top side, and it's very difficult.
“That's why I think winning here deserves even more credit. I didn't know about that stat, but that's incredible.
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“It didn't feel like this to be fair on the pitch because there were very little margins sometimes when they had the opportunity to shoot, and it's a team that shoots a lot. So you have to be so good at blocking shots and preventing those spaces for them to get into there.
“I's our commitment of every single player in every action consistently to deliver those kind of stats and to do it against this team. It's something remarkable, I would say.”
Arteta continued: “It feels better (to win here) as a manager because it's been such a long time without having this feeling here that we really needed it.
“We are extremely proud of what the team, the players, everybody has done, and especially in the conditions that we arrived to this game. Where we were after the defeat against Fleetwood, it looks like the end of the world. It looks like: 'Yeah, what are we doing?'
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 1: Mikel Arteta, Manager / Head Coach of Arsenal celebrates the 1-0 win with his staff at final whistle following the Premier League 2026/27 match between Liverpool FC and Arsenal FC at Anfield on November 1, 2026 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta celebrates as the full-time whistle blows at Anfield (Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
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“And then you have to pick yourself up. Understand that this is the beautiful part of this game: that when you believe that you have done everything and deserve to win the game clearly, you are out of a cup.
“And then four days later, you have to come to Anfield, against this manager, against this team that are in a really good moment and compete, perform, and earn the right to win the game in the manner that we've done.”
Meanwhile, Arteta also claimed he had not seen Liverpool’s penalty appeals, despite Iraola insisting his team had been denied a clear spot-kick for a pull on Alexander Isak in the box.
“I don't know. I haven't seen it,” he said. “I will have to comment on a lot of actions that happened in the game, otherwise.”
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 2: Liverpool FC Head Coach Andoni Iraola concentrates after the pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Leeds United at Soldier Field on August 2, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Miller/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
Liverpool's new head coach Andoni Iraola, pictured on the club's tour of the US(Michael Miller/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)