Mikel Arteta says shock loss at Fleetwood inspired Arsenal to win at Liverpool

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says his side’s first Premier League victory at Liverpool in 14 years was inspired by their shock Carabao Cup exit at Fleetwood.

The Gunners suffered a humiliating penalty shoot-out defeat to the League Two side on Tuesday.

But the champions responded in style on Sunday, claiming a hard-fought 1-0 win at Anfield to move top of the Premier League table.

Arteta said: “It has been such a long time without having this winning feeling here.

“We are extremely proud of the team and the players and what everyone has done, especially in the conditions in which we arrived to this game – the defeat against Fleetwood looks the end of the world, but then you have to pick yourself up.

“How the hell can you go out of the cup when you shoot 27 times and have the chances we had against a team who had one shot on target? Then you look so silly but I had the feeling now was the moment.

“I said we were going to do it. We were going to have to dig deep and show a lot of quality in key moments – we did it.”

Arsenal took control of the game when Kai Havertz struck in the 16th minute after an Alisson Becker error, but they had to withstand strong pressure from the home side to claim the points.

Liverpool dominated for long spells but, such was Arsenal’s defensive resilience, they failed to muster a shot on target for the first time since the Premier League started recording such statistics in 2003.

Arteta said: “I didn’t know about that stat but that is incredible. It didn’t feel like that, they are a team that shoots a lot and you have to be so good at blocking shots.

“It shows the commitment of every single player and to do that against that team is remarkable.”

Liverpool had a strong penalty appeal turned down after Alexander Isak’s shirt was pulled by Jurrien Timber as he leapt to reach a cross.

There was also another claim after Cody Gakpo was challenged by Christos Tzolis but Reds manager Andoni Iraola was more frustrated by the Isak incident.

Iraola said: “I think the Isak one is a clear penalty. He’s going to head the ball in front of the goal, and they grab him where everyone sees the shirt.

“I don’t see the reason why (it was not given) – probably because he doesn’t dive or he doesn’t go to the floor. It shouldn’t be a reason not to concede a penalty.

“The Gakpo one, I think it’s a sustained holding but I understand their argument and I think they are right that they say the ball was too long and Cody wouldn’t have arrived to the ball.”

Iraola admitted Liverpool paid the price for a slow opening.

He said: “I think we have to blame the start of the game. Until we conceded the goal, (we were not) at the level of the rest of the game. But from 1-0, I loved the reaction of the team.”