Arsenal finally conquered one of English football’s most difficult away assignments, ending their long wait for a Premier League victory at Anfield with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Liverpool on Sunday. Mikel Arteta’s side produced a disciplined defensive performance to protect an early advantage, halt Liverpool’s winning momentum and return to the top of the table.
The victory ended Arsenal’s 13-match league winless run at Anfield, where they had recorded five draws and eight defeats since their previous success in 2012. It also delivered a significant milestone for the Gunners, who became only the second club after Manchester United to register 300 away victories in the Premier League.
The decisive moment arrived in the 16th minute, when Declan Rice found Kai Havertz with an incisive pass into the Liverpool penalty area. The German forward kept his composure from close range, finishing past Alisson to give the visitors the lead.
Arsenal had begun with greater control of possession but initially struggled to turn it into clear opportunities. David Raya was, however, alert to Liverpool’s threat on the counter, rushing off his line to prevent Bradley Barcola from taking advantage of an early opening created by Alexander Isak.
Liverpool responded to falling behind with increased attacking pressure. Barcola caused problems down the flank, while Isak and Cody Gakpo looked to exploit spaces around Arsenal’s defensive line. But the visitors remained organised, with Rice particularly influential in breaking up Liverpool’s attempts to build momentum.
The hosts thought they had an opportunity to draw level when Gakpo went down inside the penalty area following a challenge in the 29th minute. Referee Andy Madley initially waved play on before consulting the video assistant referee, but the review did not produce a penalty, leaving Liverpool frustrated.
Despite that setback, Liverpool continued to threaten. Isak forced Raya to intervene after being picked out by a pass from Virgil van Dijk, while Alexis Mac Allister tested the Arsenal goalkeeper from distance.
The clearest opportunities came towards the end of the first half, when Florian Wirtz’s free kick struck the crossbar before Mac Allister headed narrowly over from a Milos Kerkez cross.
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Arsenal survived that spell of pressure and could have extended their advantage, but Liverpool went into the interval still within touching distance. The visitors’ ability to withstand the late first-half surge would prove central to their eventual victory.
Liverpool resumed with the intention of finding an equalizer, but their finishing continued to let them down. Isak fired over after receiving a pass from Kerkez, while Wirtz saw another effort blocked as Arsenal’s defenders increasingly crowded the space around their penalty area.
The Gunners gradually managed to slow the tempo and reduce Liverpool’s attacking rhythm. Their best opportunity to double the lead came in the 73rd minute, when Christos Tzolis collected a pass outside the box and curled a shot towards the bottom-right corner. Alisson reacted sharply, producing an excellent save to turn the effort behind.
Arteta introduced fresh legs as the match entered its final stages, with Viktor Gyokeres replacing Havertz and Piero Hincapie coming on for Tzolis. Liverpool also made changes, bringing on Dominik Szoboszlai, Rio Ngumoha and Lewis Koumas in an attempt to find a breakthrough.
The home side pushed forward in the closing minutes, but Arsenal continued to defend resolutely. Ngumoha had efforts blocked, while Szoboszlai’s deliveries into the penalty area failed to produce the opening Liverpool needed. Even six minutes of added time could not change the outcome, as Arsenal saw out the contest to secure a landmark victory.
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The defeat brought an end to a five-match winning run in all competitions and a missed opportunity to close the gap on the leaders. Their attacking pressure produced promising moments, particularly before half time, but a combination of Raya’s interventions, Arsenal’s defensive organization and their own lack of precision proved costly.
The result was another statement of their growing authority in the title race. Having won 17 of their last 20 Premier League matches, Arteta’s side responded to their midweek Carabao Cup disappointment with a performance built on efficiency and defensive resilience.
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