Arsenal Round-Up, Monday 2nd November: Gunners End 14-Year Anfield Hoodoo to Go Top of the Table
It's all about Anfield today after Arsenal finally ended their long wait for a league win there, with Kai Havertz's first-half strike enough to see off Liverpool and send the Gunners three points clear at the top of the Premier League (ESPN) (talkSPORT) (Sky Sports). It was Arsenal's first victory on Liverpool's patch in fourteen years, and pundits were quick to praise the defensive performance, with Sky Sports describing it as a defensive masterclass after the Gunners restricted their hosts to no shots on target all afternoon (Sky Sports) (Evening Standard). Mikel Arteta reacted to that remarkable shutout stat and also gave his verdict on Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola (Evening Standard). The Guardian's Jonathan Wilson went further, arguing Arsenal now have everything required to retain their title, while Football.London noted Arteta has reached a new personal milestone and that the Gunners have picked up extra points compared to this stage last season (Football.London) (The Guardian).
Rice also revealed to ESPN that Arteta had challenged him at the start of the season to "do more" for the team (ESPN), while BBC pundit Danny Murphy suggested Rice could be even more effective in front of goal if he was a touch more selfish (BBC Sport). Rice also named the sides he sees as Arsenal's main title rivals following the win and City's recent drop-off (Football.London). Elsewhere, Ezri Konsa continues to impress since his summer move from Aston Villa, with BBC Sport highlighting how seamlessly he has fitted into the side (BBC Sport).
The win wasn't without controversy. Liverpool felt they should have had a penalty after Jurrien Timber appeared to pull Alexander Isak's shirt in the box, a decision that split opinion across the media (BBC Sport) (talkSPORT) (ESPN) (Football.London) (Football.London) (Sky Sports) (BBC Sport). The Guardian's Chris Foy backed referee Andy Madley and VAR, insisting they got the big calls right, including the decision not to send off Noni Madueke for his clash with Alexis Mac Allister (The Guardian), though Sky's Ref Watch panel called that incident "embarrassing" (Sky Sports). Football.London's referee review and Iraola's own admission afterwards both dug further into the key moments (Football.London) (Football.London). Away from the officials, Piero Hincapié was seen aiming a pointed dig at Virgil van Dijk after the final whistle, saying "I don't forget" (ESPN) (talkSPORT), while Madueke also had his own say on the Mac Allister clash and praised Konsa's impact (Football.London).
On the transfer front, TeamTalk reports that Real Madrid have identified Riccardo Calafiori as a "dream" target for Jose Mourinho, with the Italian seen as his preferred option at left-back (TeamTalk). Arsenal's own business is moving too, with reports suggesting the club are looking to accelerate a deal for Bournemouth's Junior Kroupi, though Football.London warns of competition from Europe's elite and a stubborn stance from the Cherries (TeamTalk) (Football.London). Elsewhere, incoming signing Victor Ozhianvuna said an emotional farewell to Shamrock Rovers ahead of his "landmark" move to Arsenal (Evening Standard).
Looking ahead, Arsenal turn their attention to the Champions League trip to face Slavia Prague, with ESPN and Arsenal.com both providing full details on how to watch (ESPN) (Arsenal.com). Football.London also compared Arsenal's run of fixtures favourably with Manchester City's as the title race takes shape (Football.London). In the academy ranks, Max Dowman could make an early return from suspension this week (Football.London), while Arsenal.com's Loan Watch rounded up Setford's saves and Nwaneri's cup win out on loan (Arsenal.com). In the WSL, Arsenal scored a late equaliser that featured among the weekend's best goals (BBC Sport). Fans can also still vote for their men's Player of the Month for October over on Arsenal.com (Arsenal.com), while the club have also been celebrating the records broken during Sunday's famous win (Arsenal.com).
This round-up is written with the help of AI, using only the day's headlines from the publishers credited above. Each point links to the original report — tap the source name to read it in full.
