Mikel Arteta hails Arsenal's 'historic' Liverpool win after ending 14-year Anfield wait
Mikel Arteta has expressed his pride in Arsenal after his side ended their 14-year wait for a Premier League win at Liverpool.
Kai Havertz scored the decisive goal at Anfield, as the Gunners secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory to return to the top of the Premier League table.
Arsenal had to withstand significant pressure from Liverpool after the break, with Arteta praising the spirit and resilience his players showed to secure a memorable result.
The Spaniard also reflected on the response to Wednesday's Carabao Cup disappointment against Fleetwood, insisting his side had demonstrated the mentality of a winning team.
The win moves Arsenal three points clear of Manchester City, following the latter's defeat to Brighton on Saturday.
"Extremely proud. It's been 14 years, that's a long time. I'm sure we made everybody attached to the club extremely proud today," Arteta said to Sky Sports.
"Not only for the victory but for the way we've done it, the spirit we've shown. Especially considering what happened four days ago when you lose and go out of the cup against a team you are supposed to beat. That's the magical part of this game, it can take you to really bad places but four days later you have the opportunity to do something really historic and we've done it.
"The game is going to turn in a different direction very quickly. The way they attack, they can generate vertical attacks almost from a bad clearance or a bad throw, that's the quality that they have. And you have to be prepared, immediately to react to that with 60 metres to defend with four or five players running into your box. And we discussed that, we put everything into those actions, sometimes with more quality, sometimes with less quality, and we generated our own chaos.
"But, as well I think we have to give credit to the players for the situations and chances today that we didn't put away. Overall, to win against a team that is producing what they are doing, and also in the emotional state after Fleetwood, that's what a winning team should do.
"I'm extremely proud; this is something you want to accomplish. 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."
