Arsenal’s sixth clean sheet in nine league matches makes their defence the main FPL story from Sunday’s narrow win over Liverpool. Declan Rice shaped the result at both ends: he shielded the back line, created Kai Havertz’s winner and now leads Arsenal’s creative numbers in two categories. Liverpool, meanwhile, left with familiar questions about turning pressure into clear chances.
Rice’s low cross found Havertz, who converted after an overlapping run. The goal settled a match in which Arsenal had to absorb early pressure before finding control. The result also brought a frustrating blank for Alexander Isak and a return from injury for Dominik Szoboszlai, who came on in the second half.
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Arsenal’s defence keeps delivering
Arsenal’s defensive record is now six clean sheets from nine matches, and they managed this one without William Saliba (£5.9m). The performance wasn’t entirely comfortable: Liverpool applied pressure and created several threatening moments. But Arsenal restricted their opponents’ space, stayed organised and ultimately made it difficult for Liverpool to turn possession into a goal.
Mikel Arteta described the game as relentless and praised the way his players stayed together under pressure. He also acknowledged that Arsenal could have managed parts of the match better and been more effective in front of goal. For FPL managers, the result reinforces the value of Arsenal’s defence while showing that clean sheets can still come through demanding afternoons rather than routine control.
“We knew it wasn’t going to be easy. We’ve not won here in 14 years. We got off to a very good start, could have probably have managed the game better, but like I said, it was relentless attacks. We could have probably done a little bit more as well in front of goal, but in the end, that defensive line, the way we stick together, that togetherness we have is like nothing I’ve ever seen before.” – Mikel Arteta
Ezri Konsa (£4.7m) led the match for defensive contributions, recording 15. Riccardo Calafiori (£5.9m) lost his defensive contribution points after the Opta refresh; he had moved into a wing-back role late in the game. That change in scoring is a reminder that those points can shift after the match, even when a player’s on-pitch contribution hasn’t changed.
Rice adds creativity to his defensive work
Rice (£7.4m) was central to Arsenal’s win. His assist came from an overlapping run and a low delivery that Havertz (£7.4m) turned into the decisive goal. Rice also had three long-range shots of his own, but his broader FPL appeal is increasingly tied to the work he does in possession as well as his role screening the defence.
He has five assists this season, all from open play. Only Pascal Gross (£6.2m) has more. Rice is also top or joint-top among Arsenal players for chances created, with 17, and crosses, with 32, in 2026/27 so far. Hull City are next, giving managers a near-term fixture in which those creative returns may again matter.
“The manager had a really honest conversation with me at the start of the season and still thinks that I can do more in this shirt and for this club. And this season so far, I’ve been feeling really good.
“We spoke about overlaps before the game. I spoke to this guy [Havertz] about attacking the box with real aggression. He was there, and he nearly could have had another one with the same action. So, I’m so happy for him because he deserved that goal today.” – Declan Rice
Christos Tzolis (£6.1m) made his first start since Gameweek 5 after an injury, coming in for Eberechi Eze (£6.2m), who had been dealing with an issue before the match. Tzolis threatened from the left and nearly scored, only for Alisson Becker (£5.5m) to make a strong save. Arteta said the winger had impressed in training and was reluctant to come off, though the club chose to manage his return carefully.
“It’s the energy that he had in training. When I asked him the question, how convinced he was. We had an issue with Ebs [Eze] as well, it was incredible that he was in the squad today.
“With Christos, incredible. He didn’t want to come off, he wanted to complete the game. We took some risks, but at a point we decided enough was enough.” – Mikel Arteta on Christos Tzolis
Isak blanks as Liverpool struggle to finish
Isak (£9.2m) drew attention from FPL managers last week, when 784,357 squads recruited him. He found some promising positions against Arsenal and may have had grounds to win a penalty, but finished the match without a return. Arsenal’s defence offers a severe test, so the blank alone says little about what Isak can produce against less restrictive opponents.
Liverpool did have chances. Florian Wirtz struck the crossbar with a free-kick, while Alexis Mac Allister headed over from the match’s only opportunity Opta classified as a big chance. Liverpool recorded no shots on target. The gap between pressure and clear chances remains a concern: only Coventry City had created fewer big chances than Liverpool in 2026/27 at the time of the report.
Bradley Barcola (£8.1m) started on his preferred left flank, with Cody Gakpo (£7.1m) on the right. Liverpool’s response improved after Arsenal scored, and their manager Andoni Iraola felt they had done enough to find a goal. He pointed to Wirtz’s crossbar effort, Mac Allister’s header and penalty appeals, while conceding that the team’s opening phase fell short.
“Overall, I think we have to blame especially the start of the game and until we conceded the goal. I think the start hasn’t been at the level of the game. But from that 1-0, I think it’s [after] 15 or 16 minutes, I’ve loved the reaction of the team. Even in the first half, I think we reacted really well and put Arsenal under big pressure.
“I think we’ve done enough to score but obviously we haven’t. But we had the crossbar [hit by Florian Wirtz], we had the header of [Alexis] Mac Allister that, for me, is a very clear chance. I think we had a clear penalty also for us and I think we’ve had a lot of situations inside the box – not even around the box, inside the box – that definitely we haven’t finished properly.” – Andoni Iraola
Szoboszlai is back in the squad
Szoboszlai (£6.7m) returned to Liverpool’s matchday squad after injury and entered just before the hour, replacing Trey Nyoni (£4.8m). Iraola said the midfielder had been eager to start, but the club had taken a cautious approach after feeling they had brought him back too quickly following the Brentford game.
Liverpool’s next match is away to Crystal Palace in Gameweek 10. Palace have conceded more headed goals than any other side this season, a detail that could suit Szoboszlai’s set-piece delivery if he is ready to start. His minutes against Arsenal mark a step in his return; whether he moves straight back into the starting side remains the key FPL question.
For now, Arsenal’s defensive consistency and Rice’s expanding creative output are the clearest signals from the match. Liverpool’s attacking potential is harder to assess until pressure produces more high-quality chances, while Szoboszlai’s return gives managers a reason to watch team news closely before the Palace fixture.
