Arsenal show true colours at Anfield after Fleetwood humiliation

LIVERPOOL, England, Nov 1 : If Arsenal's title rivals thought their humbling penalty shoot-out defeat by fourth-tier Fleetwood Town in the League Cup might have shaken the confidence of Mikel Arteta's side, Sunday's gritty 1-0 win at Liverpool would have been sobering viewing.

Being knocked out by a team 84 rungs lower on the ladder was not the best way for Arteta's Premier League champions to prepare for a trip to Anfield, especially with Andoni Iraola's team beginning to click.

Four days later, however, Arsenal's armour-plating looked fully restored as they held Liverpool at bay and sealed a first league win at Anfield for 14 years to move three points clear of Manchester City at the top of the table.

Kai Havertz's 16th-minute tap-in proved decisive as Liverpool, for all their attacking intent and 16 goal attempts, could not break down Arsenal's impregnable yellow wall.

"We just said after the last few days, after the defeat against Fleetwood, that things happen for a reason and that's going to give us another spring and hunger and belief to go and do it. What the team has done here today is incredible," Arteta, part of the Arsenal team that won 2-1 at Anfield in 2012, said.

"(Liverpool) are in a really good moment. It was really deserved, to come here and win in the manner that we have done, I think the players deserve so much credit."

Liverpool, seeking a third league win on the spin which would have moved them within three points of Arsenal, responded well to going behind with Florian Wirtz curling a free kick against the crossbar and Alexis Mac Allister heading a good chance over the crossbar before halftime.

The hosts also felt they should have had a penalty when Jurrien Timber grabbed at Alexander Isak's shirt.

But after