Declan Rice praised Arsenal’s togetherness after they ended a 14-year wait for a victory at Anfield by defeating Liverpool 1-0. The result sent the Gunners three points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table.
Defensive Resilience at Anfield
Kai Havertz scored the decisive goal in the first half from a cross provided by Rice, marking the midfielder’s fifth Premier League assist of the campaign. Arsenal successfully weathered intense pressure from the hosts after taking the lead and were largely untroubled in the second half.
Speaking to Sky Sports about keeping Liverpool at bay, Rice told 101 Great Goals reporting outlet, “That is the Anfield way, that is what this Liverpool team can do and they just create waves and waves of attack. Relentless attacks. We knew it wouldn’t have been easy but in the end that defensive line and that togetherness is undefeated, nothing I have ever seen before.”
Rice also discussed his role under the manager, explaining that an honest conversation at the start of the season motivated him to do more for the club. Regarding the league standings, he added that the table should only be taken seriously during the matches in February and March, noting that teams must simply win everything in between.
Arteta and Iraola Reactions
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, who played in the fixture during the club’s previous away win at Liverpool in 2012, praised his squad’s spirit following a disappointing EFL Cup exit against Fleetwood Town. Arteta told Sky Sports that winning away at traditional grounds like Chelsea, Manchester United, and now Liverpool fulfills the team’s purpose and motivation.
Meanwhile, Liverpool’s defeat left them nine points behind Arsenal at the summit, with the hosts feeling aggrieved over turned-down penalty appeals. Manager Andoni Iraola expressed particular frustration over an incident where Jurrien Timber pulled Alexander Isak’s shirt inside the area.
Because Isak stayed on his feet rather than going down under the contact, no penalty was awarded. Iraola told Sky Sports, “That’s the problem we have with the game. Because he doesn’t dive and go to the floor. The fact that you are even asking me if he should go to the floor, if he goes to the floor, they call the penalty 100 percent.” When pressed on whether he would instruct the striker to hit the turf in the future, Iraola replied affirmatively.
Arsenal will look to maintain their position at the top of the Premier League standings as the domestic campaign continues.
