Gunners Conquer Anfield: Havertz Hero as Arsenal End 14-Year Hoodoo

Arsenal produced a gritty, historic 1-0 victory over Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday, ending a 14-year Premier League drought at the venue and climbing to the top of the table.

Kai Havertz’s 16th-minute strike, set up by Declan Rice, proved decisive as Mikel Arteta’s side delivered a defensive masterclass to silence the Kop and leapfrog Manchester City.

The win marks Arsenal’s first top-flight success at Anfield since September 2012, when Arteta himself starred in midfield during a 2-0 triumph featuring goals from Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla.

That 14-year wait encompassed 13 winless Premier League visits (five draws, eight losses), including six under Arteta before this breakthrough (three draws, three losses).

It was also their first clean sheet there in the league since that 2012 result and their 300th Premier League away win, joining Manchester United as the only sides to reach the milestone.

Havertz, who became the Premier League’s all-time leading German goalscorer with the finish, tapped home at the back post after Rice’s low cross following an Alisson error.

Liverpool dominated possession and registered 17 shots but failed to hit the target, with Florian Wirtz striking the crossbar and Alexis Mac Allister missing a clear header.

Arsenal’s organization, especially without William Saliba, frustrated the hosts and preserved a sixth clean sheet in nine league games this season.

The result lifts the defending champions to 24 points from nine matches (eight wins), three clear of City and nine ahead of fifth-placed Liverpool, whose five-game winning streak across competitions ended.

It also continues Arsenal’s strong title defense after a midweek Carabao Cup setback.

Arteta’s record against the traditional top six (Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham) has transformed dramatically.

Early in his tenure the points-per-game average against these sides hovered around 1.3; recent seasons have seen it climb to 1.9–2.1 or higher.

Arsenal went more than two years without a Premier League loss to any of the other Big Six clubs after a April 2023 defeat to City, compiling long unbeaten sequences that underscored their growth into consistent big-game performers.

Home form against these opponents has been particularly robust, while away results have steadily improved—this Anfield success removing one of the last remaining hoodoos.

Against Liverpool specifically, the victory improves Arteta’s Premier League record to a more balanced ledger after previous struggles on Merseyside.

This result is more than three points. It closes a personal and club chapter for Arteta, validates the tactical discipline he has instilled, and positions Arsenal as clear early frontrunners.

With Champions League action next and a home fixture to follow, the Gunners head into the international break with momentum, belief, and a historic Anfield memory that supporters will cherish for years.