Arsenal are still jubilant after beating Liverpool 1-0 in the Premier League and securing victory at Anfield for the first time since 2012
Mikel Arteta, Manager / Head Coach of Arsenal celebrates towards the fans following the Premier League 2026/27 match between Liverpool FC and Arsenal FC
Mikel Arteta's Arsenal bested Liverpool 1-0 on Sunday(Image: Getty)
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Arsenal sit clear atop the Premier League table after their 1-0 victory against Liverpool on Sunday. Mikel Arteta's men can now look forward to an away Champions League tie versus Slavia Prague.
The Gunners travelled to Anfield at the weekend having not won there in over 14 years. But they took the lead through Kai Havertz in the 16th minute as he became the all-time leading German goalscorer in Premier League history. The home side then piled on the pressure, yet they couldn't break down a resolute visiting defence.
Arsenal recorded a staggering 49 clearances on the night. The centre-back pairing of Gabriel and Ezri Konsa, as well as Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori at full-back, stood firm. The champions held on to seal all three points and are now three clear of second-place Manchester City in the top flight.
Andoni Iraola's fury
In the 21st minute on Sunday, a Liverpool cross came into the box and Isak leapt under pressure from Timber, but could not get anything on the ball. Yet replays showed the Arsenal defender had a handful of Isak's shirt just as the cross flashed by.
Andoni Iraola, Manager of Liverpool, reacts as he speaks to the media during a Liverpool Press Conference
Iraola hit out at the decision in his post-match press conference(Image: Getty)
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Isak did not appeal and instead stayed on his feet and had words with Timber. Referee Andy Madley waved play on and VAR did not intervene. But after the game, Liverpool manager Iraola claimed his side should have had a penalty and even went so far as to say he will now tell his players to go down more easily.
An angry Iraola said: "I think the [Alexander] Isak one is a clear penalty. He is going to head the ball in front of the goal and they grab him where everyone sees the shirt.
"You don't need a lot just to avoid Alex because the ball just goes in front of him and I don't see the reason why [it is not given]. Probably because he doesn't dive or he doesn't go to the floor – it shouldn't be a reason not to concede a penalty.
"I can say what I think about the situations, but we cannot waste too much time about the refereeing decisions. We have to say what it is, I think it is a pen, but we have to control the things we need to improve to be on the right side of these close games."
Private Mikel Arteta chat
Elsewhere, Declan Rice, who set up Havertz for the only goal of the game at Anfield, has revealed the details of the private chat he had with Arteta at the start of this season.
Mikel Arteta, Manager / Head Coach of Arsenal celebrates with Declan Rice in front of the fans following the Premier League 2026/27 match between Liverpool FC and Arsenal FC
Rice has shared the chat he had with Arteta(Image: Getty)
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"I think the manager had a really honest conversation with me at the start of the season and still thinks I can do more in this shirt and for this club," Rice told Sky Sports.
"This season so far I've been feeling really good. We spoke about overlaps before this game and I spoke to Havertz about attacking the box with real aggression and he was there. He nearly could have had another one with the same action. I'm so happy for him because he deserves that goal and ultimately to win 1-0."
Next up for Rice and his team-mates is a European trip to Prague on Wednesday evening. Arsenal are currently seventh in the Champions League standings after two wins and a draw last time out against Bayern Munich.
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