Arsenal Anfield Curse Ends: Havertz Seals 1-0 Win as Gunners Go Top
Arsenal Anfield curse is finally over. The Gunners beat Liverpool 1-0 at Anfield on Sunday, their first league win at the venue since September 2012. Kai Havertz scored the only goal. And the result sent Arsenal to the top of the Premier League, three points clear of Manchester City.
Arsenal have waited 14 years for this. They have been humiliated, frustrated, and written off at Anfield. On Sunday, they finally won.
Kai Havertz scored in the 16th minute, finishing calmly after Liverpool failed to clear their lines. It was the kind of goal that decides tight matches. It was the kind of goal Arsenal have been missing at this ground .
The Curse Is Broken
The Arsenal Anfield curse stretched back to September 2012, when Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla scored in a 2-0 victory. Since then, Arsenal had visited 13 times and returned with five draws and eight defeats .
That record is now history.
Mikel Arteta’s side defended with discipline, absorbed pressure, and took their chance. Liverpool had possession, but they did not have the breakthrough. Arsenal had the goal, and they had the three points.
Arteta was emotional after the match. “Fourteen years we have been waiting for this moment, and finally we have done it in a very special situation,” he said. “I am very happy, proud and full of energy. It is a proud moment for everyone who is part of this football club” .
The Numbers Behind the Defensive Masterclass
The statistics tell the story of Arsenal’s resilience. Liverpool had 17 attempts on goal but zero shots on target. It was the first time since Opta began collecting data in 2003 that Liverpool failed to register a single shot on target at home .
Florian Wirtz hit the crossbar with a free-kick. Alexis Mac Allister headed over from close range. Alexander Isak was denied a penalty when Jurrien Timber pulled his shirt, a decision that VAR reviewed and upheld .
But Arsenal held firm. Gabriel and Ezri Konsa were immovable at the back. Declan Rice protected the defence with relentless energy. And David Raya, when called upon, was calm and commanding.
The Table Has Changed
The win lifts Arsenal to 24 points from nine matches, three clear of Manchester City, who lost 1-0 to Brighton on the same day .
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 9 | 24 |
| 2 | Man City | 9 | 21 |
| 3 | Brighton | 9 | 19 |
| 4 | Chelsea | 9 | 16 |
| 5 | Liverpool | 9 | 15 |
Liverpool, the defending champions, are now fifth with 15 points, nine behind Arsenal. The title race has a new leader. And it is not the team everyone expected.
My Take: The Arsenal Anfield Curse Was About Belief, Not Possession
Everyone will talk about Havertz’s goal. They will talk about the table. They will talk about the 14-year wait.
But the real story is belief.
Arsenal have been the better team in this fixture before. They have dominated possession, created chances, and still lost. Anfield has a way of breaking teams. It has broken Arsenal repeatedly.
This time, it did not.
Arteta’s side did not panic. They did not chase the game. They defended with structure, they took their moment, and they held on. That is what champions do. They win when they are not at their best. They win at grounds where they have historically struggled.
Manchester City lost to Brighton. Liverpool lost to Arsenal. And Arsenal are top of the league.
The season is not over. It is November. But the momentum has shifted. And for the first time in years, Arsenal look like a team that believes they can win the title.
What Happens Next
Arsenal face Slavia Prague in the Champions League midweek, then Hull City in the Premier League . Liverpool face Brighton, then the Champions League, then Arsenal again in the return fixture.
The table will change. The season is long. But for now, Arsenal are top. And they earned it.
FAQs
Who scored Arsenal’s goal against Liverpool?
Kai Havertz scored in the 16th minute, finishing from Declan Rice’s low cross .
When did Arsenal last win at Anfield?
September 2012, when Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla scored in a 2-0 win .
Where are Arsenal in the Premier League table?
First, with 24 points from nine matches, three clear of Manchester City .
Where are Liverpool in the table?
Fifth, with 15 points from nine matches .
How many shots on target did Liverpool have?
Zero. It was the first time since 2003 that Liverpool failed to register a shot on target at home .
