LIVERPOOL
\nArsenal moved to the top of the Premier League with their first win away to Liverpool in 14 years as Kai Havertz\u2019s early strike secured a 1-0 victory for the Gunners.
\nThe defending champions were made to suffer after the German\u2019s 16th-minute opener but held out for what could be a telling win in their quest to retain the title. Arsenal climbed three points clear of Manchester City at the top of the table.
\nBut with City expected to be hit with a severe points penalty, unless they can overturn a guilty verdict on over 100 charges of breaking Premier League rules, Arsenal dealt a huge blow to their most likely rivals for the title. \u201cIt\u2019s been such a long time without this feeling here, that we really needed it,\u201d said Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. \u201cWe are extremely proud of what the team, the players, everybody has done.\u201d
\nLiverpool produced arguably their best spell of Andoni Iraola\u2019s early months in charge with a blistering 30 minutes after conceding, but failed to take their chances as the Spaniard suffered just his second defeat in 14 games since arriving from Bournemouth.
\nArteta was stinging in his criticism of the Arsenal side that crashed out to fourth-tier Fleetwood on Tuesday in one of the biggest ever League Cup shocks.
\nThe Arsenal boss got the response he desired in a strong start from the champions. Havertz was one of the biggest culprits for wasting chances in midweek but made amends with a simple finish from Declan Rice\u2019s precise low cross. The early goal lit the touchpaper for a pulsating first 45 minutes as Liverpool roared back.
\nIraola and Arteta played together as boys for Basque side Antiguoko Kirol Elkartea. Arteta\u2019s old friend gave his side one of the most uncomfortable afternoons they have experienced in recent seasons as Arsenal\u2019s rock-solid defense was left clinging on for half-time. \u201cI loved the reaction from my players after going 1-0 down,\u201d said Iraola. \u201cI loved a lot of moments of the game.
\n\u201cWe have to keep going. It is very early in the season. Arsenal are in the best of the situations but it is just the start of November today.\u201d All of Liverpool\u2019s three \u00a3100 million-plus ($134 million) forward started together and there are signs the relationship between Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and Bradley Barcola is beginning to flourish. Isak did Arsenal a favor by not going down as he was pulled back by Jurrien Timber when just failing to connect with a wicked delivery from Barcola.
\n\u201cThe Alex one is a clear penalty,\u201d added Iraola. \u201cWe can all see that he holds the shirt (but) because he doesn\u2019t go to the floor, you are not going to call the penalty? I don\u2019t understand it.\u201d
\nWirtz curled a free-kick onto the bar from a narrow angle and Alexis Mac Allister should have buried a header into the goal rather than finding the stand behind David Raya\u2019s goal.
\nHalf-time allowed Arsenal the chance to reset and take the wind out of Liverpool\u2019s sails as Iraola\u2019s men tired in the second period. Alisson Becker produced a stunning save to turn behind Christos Tzolis\u2019s shot that was arrowing into the bottom corner to keep Liverpool in the game.
\nThat intervention counted for little as Arsenal rode out the closing stages to register another clean sheet and an eighth win in nine league games.Defeat leaves fifth-placed Liverpool nine points adrift of the leaders and already facing a mountain to climb to get back in the title race.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
LIVERPOOL Arsenal moved to the top of the Premier League with their first win away to Liverpool in 14 years as Kai Havertz\u2019s early strike secured a 1-0 victory for the Gunners. The defending champions were made to suffer after the German\u2019s 16th-minute opener but held out for what could be a telling win in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-575643","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-sports"],"yoast_head":"\n