MIKEL ARTETA hailed his Arsenal stars after they completed their mission and conquered Anfield for the first time in 14 years.
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher in a heated end to the game after the midfielder tried to get Noni Madueke sent off following a clash of heads.
Reds boss Andoni Iraola and captain Virgil van Dijk were both fuming after the 1-0 defeat because Alexander Isak was , despite Jurrien Timber pulling his shirt.
Kai Havertz’s 16th minute goal secured Arsenal’s first top-flight win at Anfield since 2012 and sent them three points clear at the top of the Premier League.
said: “I’m extremely proud. 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 of those [teams], that’s the purpose and motivation and why we do what we do.
“I had the feeling that now was the moment. We were going to have to dig deep, have an element of luck at times, and for sure a lot of quality in key moments. We have done it.”
Arsenal had to weather the storm after Declan Rice teed up Havertz for .
And a feisty finish led to Madueke and Mac Allister squaring up to each other.
The Arsenal players were unhappy after on the head when he was on the ground.
The Liverpool midfielder then threw himself on the deck when Madueke confronted him, which angered Carragher.
The Reds legend said: “It’s a joke from Mac Allister and it’s got to stop.
“I want Liverpool to win the game, but I’m delighted he [] didn’t get sent off.
“We have really got to be calling people out and saying, ‘this is embarrassing’. It’s ridiculous and it’s got to stop. I can’t stand it.
“If someone puts their head back and butts, then red card. But if it’s head-to-head and they touch, the other one goes down and the player gets sent off, as a game, call your own people out on it.”
Liverpool’s best spell came in the first half after Arsenal took the lead.
with a free-kick, and Isak had a penalty shout waved away after Timber pulled his shirt when the striker tried to get on the end of a cross.
The Swede did not go down and, asked if he would tell him to do so in the future, said: “Yes, definitely.
“That’s the problem we have with the game, because he doesn’t dive and go to the floor. The shame is that we have to tell our players to dive.”
shared the view of his manager and added: “We have 50 cameras, why does he have to complain when there are so many cameras?
“Everyone has seen it. In the end it wasn’t given and we lost the game unfortunately, so well done to Arsenal.”
