Liverpool boss Arne Slot has been full of praise for Arsenal, despite their defeat at Anfield over the weekend.
The Reds ran out as winners in a cagey affair, with Dominik Szoboszlai’s free-kick proving to be the difference in the tie.
There were very few chances for either team, but pundits were critical of Arsenal’s chance creation in the tie.
It has led to further questioning of the Gunners and their Premier League title credentials, while Liverpool take an early advantage in the race at the top.
While Arsenal have come under fire from some quarters, the opposition manager has given some praise to the side and their ability.
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Arne Slot says Arsenal are a good team after Liverpool’s victory
While Arsenal were unable to take any points with them back to North London, it may be the early warning that Mikel Arteta needs to get his side prepared for the rest of the season.
Plenty of criticism has been aimed at the Gunners, as some questioned their bravery and risk-taking in the final third, but Liverpool boss Slot was more complimentary.
Speaking on the official Liverpool podcast, he said: “But if you play Arsenal, who were already such a good team last season, strengthened their squad with six, seven players, hardly anyone left.
“So then you know how difficult it is to play them, because last season we couldn’t win from them. Twice a draw.
“Today, if we played this game ten times, I think eight or nine times, it would be a draw. And maybe they would have won one, and we won from a moment of magic. That’s what we did.”
It was a game of fine margins in the end for Arsenal, but a real six-pointer has now gone the way of their rivals.
With an international break now here, it’s a chance for Mikel Arteta to assess the match and plot the course forward.
Mikel Arteta explains why Liverpool took hold of Arsenal clash
The clash at Anfield was one that saw Arsenal take a grip of the game in the first half, putting Liverpool on the back foot on several occasions.
But it then got away from them, as the Reds took control until they forced their way through with a spectacular free-kick.
Substitutions certainly played their part for the home side, as Curtis Jones helped add some more control and security for Liverpool.
On the reason why they took the upper hand, Arteta told the press after the game: “Because this is Anfield and at some point, it’s going to change.
“You cannot dominate Anfield for 95 minutes, and it changed in various ways, especially because we didn’t make the right decision when our keeper got the ball in their hands, we started to rush it, the turnovers, we didn’t manage them so well, so we could never glide as a team.
“They are going to create those moments without really creating any situations of danger.”
It brings an end to Arsenal’s unbeaten run against their fellow big six sides, with momentum needed quickly after the international break.
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