Jamie Carragher has claimed Arsenal are the best defensive team in world football after their 1-0 victory at Liverpool on Sunday.
The win, described by Gary Neville as a "masterclass", was Arsenal's first Premier League victory at Anfield since September 2012 and moved them three points clear at the top of the table. Kai Havertz scored the only goal in the 16th minute after work from Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard, but the result was built on a resolute defensive display.
Defensive resilience at Anfield
Despite Liverpool dominating much of the match after falling behind, registering 33 crosses and 17 shots, they failed to produce a single effort on target. It was the first time that has happened to them in a league game at Anfield since records began in 2003, ending a run of 442 consecutive home top-flight matches.
Arsenal rode their luck at times, with Liverpool denied what should have been a clear penalty for Jurrien Timber's shirt pull on Alexander Isak in the first half. Mikel Arteta's side delivered a sublime defensive display to secure the three points.
Carragher's praise for Odegaard
"This Arsenal team are the best defensive team not just in the Premier League, but I think in world football right now," Carragher said on Monday Night Football for Sky Sports.
While much of the praise for the winning goal has gone to Rice for his driving run and delivery for Havertz to sweep home from close range, Carragher singled out Odegaard for leading a suffocating press that forced Liverpool to give up possession in their own half following a short goal kick.
"I don't know if the plan was for [Alexis] Mac Allister to stay high and allow [Jeremy] Jacquet to step in, but it is brilliant from Odegaard, you have to say that," Carragher said. "Great press from [Christos] Tzolis and Odegaard is really brave. He's almost quicker to the ball than Mac Allister is but again, that's something only the Liverpool team know. It's a fantastic ball from Declan Rice."
"It's poor from Liverpool, but brilliant from Arsenal. The plan would always have been that when the ball goes into Mac Allister, Odegaard it's your job to get after him. The way we saw Fulham do it, the way we saw Brighton do it. It was just that they won the ball in a different part of the pitch."
