2d
2d
OLIVER HOLT AT ANFIELD: Five nights ago‚ less than 40 miles to the north of
Anfield‚
Arsenal fell to one of the most humiliating reverses of their long and august history. In the teeth of a gale that blew in off the
Irish Sea‚ they were knocked out of the
League Cup by
Fleetwood Town‚ a team that was 18th in
League Two. They left with their tails between their legs‚ their teenage prodigy Max Dowman sent off in a melee‚ their heart questioned‚ their quality debated‚ their discipline an issue.
Mikel Arteta and his side knew that just a few days later‚ at the other end of the Fylde Coast and across the Ribble Estuary‚ a different but daunting challenge awaited. They did not shirk it. If Tuesday night was a humbling‚ their gritty 1-0 victory in an
Anfield that was a cauldron once more felt like a significant triumph. It was the champions' first victory here since 2012 and it took them above
Manchester City so that sit‚ once more‚ at the top of the table.