Arsenal

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Liverpool and Arsenal.

Here are some of your comments:

Liverpool fans

Rob: Excellent display after a nervous start. We looked competitive and dominant so plenty of reasons to be cheerful. Stonewall penalty not even looked at, which is another VAR disgrace. Also, the nonsense about a "defensive masterclass" from Arsenal - no, they parked the bus and Liverpool just lacked a finishing touch. Besides, Arsenal could and maybe should have been 3-1 down at half-time.

Paul: Penalty aside - it was a day for experienced heads and, sadly, Trey Nyoni, Rio Ngumoha and Lewis Koumas are just not good enough. A learning lesson.

Faisal: Very good, based on a well-executed strategy. Somewhat unlucky not to get away with at least a draw from this match, but overall were the better side. It will be a two-horse battle between Arsenal and Liverpool, as Manchester City will be heavily penalised after their appeal.

Ian: Team has too many non-aggressive, weak players. Isak should be throwing his arms in the air after that shirt pull. Winners have controlled aggression. This is not a trophy-winning team.

Arsenal fans

Charles: Arsenal showed maturity, a strong winning mentality and composure. Shoutout to Arteta and the technical team - this is the kind of character to win big matches and titles. What a period to be an Arsenal fan.

Vince: Another monster defensive performance. It's always nail-biting when Arsenal score early, because you know that hands all the attacking impetus to the opposition. But Gabriel, Konsa, Timber and Calafiori were simply magnificent, repelling all that was thrown at them. Was that a kitchen sink I saw?

Dapo: 1-0 to the Arsenal... It was a gritty encounter but Arsenal showed resilience in the face of it. Anfield away wins don't come easily.

Kofi: It was a good performance and a good win, but we're lucky not to have conceded a penalty. The players have to be aware of unnecessary actions such as time-wasting and getting involved in a brawl they did not start but that results in yellow cards.

Comedian, actor and Arsenal fan Luke Kempner says Declan Rice is now having an "amazing impact" on Mikel Arteta's attack.

The midfielder was imperious in the 1-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday, and was selected as the game's best player by users on the BBC Sport player rater.

Rice has been one of Arsenal's standout players this season, and his assist for Kai Havertz's goal was his fifth of the campaign so far.

Speaking post-match, he said: "We've not won here in 14 years. It was relentless attacks but in the end that way we stuck together, that togetherness we have is undefeated. It's nothing like I've ever seen before."

"He's like Patrick Viera," Kempner told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "His passing is so good, he controls the midfield so well.

"We saw against Bayern Munich 10 days ago his ability to provide those overlaps on the right-hand side.

"He's got five assists already this season, which equals what he got last year.

"Attacking-wise, especially when he's allowed to go forward and there's someone like Myles Lewis-Skelly sitting in next to him, he's having such an amazing impact."

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Alex Howell
Arsenal reporter

Arsenal are now two points better off after nine games of this campaign than last season, when they won the title.

The Gunners attack is not yet flowing and they have scored just 14 league goals in nine games

Mikel Arteta has been restricted with his options in the forward line, with Bukayo Saka out injured, Max Dowman suspended after his red card at Fleetwood, Christos Tzolis just back from a hamstring injury, and Viktor Gyokeres and Kai Havertz both struggling for form.

But the Arsenal defence is an elite unit.

The back four only conceded 27 goals last season and, on this performance, they could once again be the difference for the Gunners.

"I'm extremely proud; this is something you want to accomplish," Arteta said after being asked what the win against Liverpool means to him.

"That's the challenge and mission you want to accomplish. I love it when it's something we have not done for many years.

"It was the same with Chelsea away and Manchester United away. To be able to beat all those, that's the purpose and motivation and why we do what we do."

Manchester City are second in the table but waiting to find out what happens, pending their appeal, after being found guilty of breaching the Premier League financial rules.

And with the rest of the big-name sides in the league in a period of transition, Arsenal could find themselves with a healthy lead at the top of the table of the table if things carry on as they are.

Arsenal face competition from AC Milan, Aston Villa and Roma to sign 20-year-old Brazil forward Endrick from Real Madrid. (Calcio Mercato - in Italian), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

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Gary Rose
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

This game could best be described as having been defence versus attack, with Arsenal spending pretty much the entire match repelling Liverpool advances.

Scoring goals is pivotal to getting wins but so too is a strong defence, and the Gunners showed they have that in this game.

They rode their luck at times in the first half but they were nevertheless impressive at the back, keeping their discipline and shape when it may have been easy to wilt against Liverpool's strong press.

After the shock loss to League Two Fleetwood Town in the Carabao Cup in midweek, Arsenal needed a performance that highlighted such a display as a mere blip, and this was certainly that.

Liverpool had 17 attempts on goal but could not manage any on target and Mikel Arteta and his Arsenal players gleefully celebrated a huge win at the final whistle.

Arsenal starting XI:

David Raya: Made a good clearance after a ball was played through the Arsenal defence in the first half. The usual assured performance from the goalkeeper. 7

Jurrien Timber: Involved in a very good battle with Bradley Barcola and had to deal with a lot of attacks down the right side. Perhaps lucky to not give away a penalty for a shirt pull on Alexander Isak. 7

Ezri Konsa: Continued his recent good form and was solid in the middle of the Arsenal back four. 8

Gabriel Magalhaes: Dealt with the threat of Isak and led the Arsenal backline. 8

Riccardo Calafiori: Not allowed to attack as much as usual but a solid defensive performance from the left-back. 8

Declan Rice: The midfielder provided the assist for Kai Havertz's goal and was Arsenal's best player. His energy in midfield was a big reason the Gunners won the game. 8

Bruno Guimaraes: An all-action display and involved in the move for the Arsenal goal. Subbed just after an hour. 6

Martin Odegaard: Won the ball back which started the move for the Arsenal opener. 6

Noni Madueke: Heavily involved in the opening goal as he started after shaking off a knock. Tired as the game went on. 6

Christos Tzolis: The winger's first start since September after injury and provided a threat from the left. Forced Alisson into an excellent save with a curling effort. 6

Kai Havertz: Scored the only goal of the game, which he needed after a difficult couple of matches. Put himself about and linked the play. 7

Arsenal substitutes:

Myles Lewis-Skelly (on 62, Guimaraes): Came on and helped to calm the game down for Arsenal as Liverpool pushed for an equaliser. 7

Piero Hincapie (on 84, Tzolis): Brought on to see out the win. 6

Viktor Gyokeres (on 84, Havertz): Introduced to provide a threat behind the backline. 6

Merino (on 88, Odegaard): Added defensive strength for the closing minutes.

Subs not used: Arrizabalaga, Mosquera, White, Eze, Zubimendi.

Read the full article and see how you rated the players

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, spoke to BBC Match of the Day after his side's victory against Liverpool: "This was especially, for everyone attached to this football club. 14 years without winning here is a long time. 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.

"It was very fluid at times, we generated six or seven chances. But the game becomes very chaotic once we misplace passes, a clearance, these guys are running at you. It's incredible the ability they have to generate vertical attacks. But the way the team sustained that kind of game is incredible for me.

"They 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."

On Declan Rice's assist: "Not just that, first of all, the movement to recognise the open situation to make the overlap, the timing of him playing the two-vs-one in the right manner and arriving from the far side constantly in the right space is something we discussed. In the second half, we had two big chances, there were a lot of moments where the team had some incredible actions."

Arteta also spoke to Sky Sports on Anfield's atmosphere: "You have to go through that, otherwise you don't win. We have had previous like that in the past and hadn't sustained it. We made a penalty or misread in the box or sometimes they have a magical moment and put the ball in the net and you don't manage to win the game. Today we had all of that, we had an element of luck as well and we had the quality in the right moments as well to hurt them."

On Liverpool not getting a penalty for a shirt pull on Alexander Isak: "No, I haven't seen that."

On what this win means for the title race: "Today is too early. Let's enjoy this incredible victory with the players and staff and tomorrow [Monday] we start to prepare for another big, big night in Prague."

Did you know?

• Kai Havertz's opener for Arsenal saw him become the top-scoring German player in Premier League history (46 goals), overtaking Ilkay Gundogan (45).

• Arsenal's 24 points this term is the most by a team after nine games of a Premier League season since the Gunners themselves in 2022-23 (also 24). Only in 2004-05 and 2007-08 have they ever had more at this stage of a Premier League campaign (25 in both).

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Liverpool's performance

What did you make of Arsenal's display?

Reaction and analysis to follow - and come back on Monday for a selection of your replies.

Liverpool proved me wrong against Brighton last week, because they didn't just win, they played well too.

After conceding so many goals last season, you can see they have really tightened things up. Arsenal don't give much away either, so this is going to be very close.

Alexander Isak is scoring goals again for the Reds, and they will be full of confidence coming into this game.

You could make a case for it ending up a repeat of the result we saw at the start of last season, when Dominik Szoboszlai's brilliant free-kick meant Liverpool edged a 1-0 win.

I do think we will see the same scoreline, just with a different winner.

Sutton's prediction: 0-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Matt Jones
BBC Sport journalist

Liverpool welcome Arsenal to Anfield on Sunday (16:30 GMT) in a heavyweight Premier League tussle.

After losing 3-0 to Manchester City, Liverpool have won four games in succession and are now six points off the top. They won at home in the league for the first time since April on Sunday, against Brighton, and carry the momentum of a Carabao Cup victory over Chelsea - 6-5 on penalties after a 1-1 draw - into Sunday's huge game.

As for Arsenal, they will hope their EFL Cup exit to fourth-tier Fleetwood Town does not distract from the defence of their title. The Gunners coasted past Everton last weekend to move level on points with Manchester City, who had earlier slipped up at Aston Villa. They do have a dreadful record at Anfield, though, and Mikel Arteta will be looking to put that right.

Arsenal's Anfield hoodoo

Liverpool are starting to build momentum under new head coach Andoni Iraola and will be quietly confident of staying in contention for the Premier League title.

Crucially, some of the club's big-money signings have started to hit form, most notably star forward Alexander Isak. The striker now has six goals in the Premier League this season – a tally bettered only by Erling Haaland – and has scored in his past three matches in the top flight.

His game has become much more focused on penalty-box play this term, and he has showcased a ruthless streak with the opportunities he has had which is comparable to the Manchester City striker.

Liverpool have also loved welcoming Arsenal to Anfield down the years. In the past 13 Premier League meetings on Merseyside, the home side have won eight and drawn five. The Gunners' last top-flight victory there came in 2012 through goals from Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla.

Gunners look to get over cup shock

Arsenal will be looking to put that shock loss to Fleetwood behind them quickly.

Arteta would have been content with what he saw in the 2-0 win over Everton last weekend, especially following a draining 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich three days earlier.

The win over the Toffees felt a lot more like the Arsenal of last season. The Gunners scored their first after seven minutes and, in doing so, registered their first non-penalty set-piece goal in the Premier League this season. They also didn't give their opponents a sniff of goal.

Centre-backs Ezri Konsa and Gabriel grabbed the goals. At the back, the pair have been forming a solid partnership, with the team showing familiar defensive bite over their past two Premier League games to keep two clean sheets.

Aside from a ropey display on the road at Brighton, where they lost 3-0, the Gunners have once again been the standard-setters at the back.

They have the best defensive record in the division for goals conceded, while their underlying numbers are also the most impressive in the league after eight games.