Arsenal Player Ratings: Christos Tzolis Shakes Off Rust After Injury Comeback While Declan Rice Steers Team Against Liverpool

November 2, 2026 sportnow ARSENAL triumphed over Liverpool to secure their first Premier League victory at Anfield in 14 YEARS.

Kai Havertz netted the solitary goal of the match by tapping in a cross from Declan Rice in the 16th minute.

Liverpool fought back valiantly, with Florian Wirtz striking the crossbar and Alexander Isak having a penalty appeal dismissed.

However, the Gunners managed to hold on for the victory, moving to the top of the Premier League, three points clear of Manchester City.

Here’s how SunSport’s Simon Collings evaluated the Arsenal players:

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He faced a lot of pressure in the first half as Liverpool bombarded the box with crosses.

He appeared solid, and his distribution was mostly good, too. He was saved by the crossbar from Florian Wirtz’s wicked free-kick.

Earned the start over Ben White, marking just his second Premier League appearance this season.

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He was slightly off the pace early on and was fortunate not to concede a penalty after tugging Isak’s shirt in the box. He improved significantly in the second half and made several crucial blocks.

After making an early mistake that handed Liverpool a chance, he quickly rebounded.

He continues to be an absolute fortress in defense in William Saliba’s absence, assisting Arsenal in weathering the Anfield storm with a tremendous performance.

While Isak typically gives him trouble, this time he managed to handle him effectively.

He led the backline with authority as Arsenal fought through a tough period toward the end of the first half.

Was fit to start after recovering from hip pain last week. He couldn’t push forward as much as he typically would because Arsenal often found themselves under pressure.

However, he almost set up a second goal for Havertz with a brilliant run and cross.

Arsenal required their key players to step up – and the England international did just that.

He covered a lot of ground and assisted in Havertz’s goal, now totaling five assists for the season. A dominant force in central midfield.

He started slowly but found his rhythm in the first half with a fierce tackle that he celebrated in front of the travelling fans.

He nearly scored with a deflected shot as well but was substituted around the 60-minute mark.

He recovered from an ankle injury to start and contributed to Havertz’s goal by linking up with Rice on the right side.

He nearly notched a second for Arsenal by connecting with Tzolis’ cross, but he struggled a bit defensively as Milos Kerkez advanced from left-back.

He was central to Arsenal’s strong start, applying pressure that led to Havertz’s goal.

Although he faded toward the end of the first half, he improved after halftime as Arsenal regained control.

Returned to the lineup after missing the previous six games due to injury.

He understandably looked a bit rusty at the beginning but improved as the game progressed, narrowly missing a goal due to a fantastic save by Alisson.

After a disappointing game against Fleetwood, he surged back to open the scoring.

He faced a challenging day against Jeremy Jacquet and Virgil van Dijk and found it hard to get involved, yet he remained Arsenal’s standout player.

Was unfortunate not to start based on his performances this season. He attempted to help Arsenal gain control and managed the game with some clever fouls.

Subs not used: Arrizabalaga, Mosquera, White, Eze, Zubimendi