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.
Record defensive display
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. 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.
“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.
“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.
“It'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.”
Emotional response to victory
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?'
“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.”
Penalty appeals not seen
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.”
