Manager Mikel Arteta on Sunday hailed Arsenal’s “character” as they returned to the top of the English Premier League and plunged Liverpool into turmoil after Bukayo Saka’s double inspired a thrilling 3-2 win.
Arteta’s side have emerged as title challengers and their hard-fought success at the Emirates Stadium was another significant statement of intent.
The Gunners took the lead inside the first minute through Gabriel Martinelli, before Darwin Nunez equalized for Liverpool.
Photo: AP
Saka put Arsenal back in front late in the first half, but although Roberto Firmino equalized after the interval, Saka’s nerveless penalty sealed Arsenal’s eighth win from their nine league matches.
Last weekend’s 3-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur added to the growing feeling that Arteta has built a team worth taking seriously and the way they refused to be denied by Liverpool underlined that impression.
“It’s great, especially the way we played and the atmosphere we generated. We deserved to win,” Arteta said after Arsenal moved one point clear of second-placed Manchester City.
Photo: AFP
“Liverpool were very efficient in the way they converted their chances, but we showed a lot of composure and character in difficult moments to overcome them,” Arteta said. “We needed to hang in there. The connection, the way the unit worked, I was really happy with that. The team dealt with it with a lot of maturity and composure.”
While Arsenal are on the up, Liverpool are in turmoil after their worst start in 10 years.
Without a win in their last three league games, manager Juergen Klopp’s men are languishing 14 points behind Arsenal in 10th place. They look a shadow of the side that came within two games of an unprecedented quadruple last season.
Although Klopp rejects claims his intense management style has worn down his players, on the seventh anniversary of the German’s appointment, the sight of Liverpool with only two wins from eight league games is jarring.
“We don’t have to look yet at the table, but we know where we are. We are not top. We have to sort it and we will,” Klopp said.
Meanwhile, manager Erik ten Hag is hoping Cristiano Ronaldo’s 700th club goal of his career can spark a return to form after the Portuguese scored the winner in Manchester United’s 2-1 victory at Everton.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has had to get used to life on the sidelines under Ten Hag after starting just once in the Premier League this season.
Ronaldo was again left on the bench, but was handed an early introduction by an injury to Anthony Martial. The 37-year-old took his chance just before halftime to give United a deserved three points from an error-strewn game by both sides.
“Every player needs it [confidence], even when you are the best in the world,” said Ten Hag after Ronaldo’s first Premier League goal of the season.
“I worked with many goal-scorers and they need the goals in every season to have that feeling, that confirmation of the intuition,” he said. “Once they have some goals, they come in a flow and games go easier. That will happen with him as well.”
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