Sturridge claims Arteta's Arsenal system is 'almost perfect'
Arsenal's victory at Anfield has prompted fresh praise for Mikel Arteta's work at the club, with former Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge among those impressed by what the Gunners boss has built.
Speaking after watching Arsenal beat Liverpool on their own turf, a result that ended a long wait for a Premier League win at Anfield, Sturridge did not hold back in his assessment of Arteta's methods, telling Sky Sports: “Arteta's system is almost perfect, what he's built with the Gunners is seriously impressive.”
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Goals from Kai Havertz helped fire Arsenal in front at Anfield, with the north London side holding on to secure a result that had eluded them at Liverpool's home ground for 14 years. The win adds to the growing sense that Arteta's tactical setup is now operating at a level capable of beating the division's best sides on the road.
A system built over years
Arteta has spent several seasons reshaping Arsenal's identity, and performances like the one at Anfield are being pointed to as evidence that the structure behind the team, defensively organised and tactically flexible, is paying dividends against the Premier League's toughest opposition.
Sturridge's comments add to a chorus of pundit reaction following the match, with the result itself drawing plenty of attention given Arsenal's historical struggles at Anfield. The last Premier League win there before this one came 14 years ago, a stat that underlines just how significant Sunday's result was for Arteta's side.
The performance will also be viewed through the lens of Arsenal's wider season, with a win of this magnitude against a direct title rival carrying weight both in the table and in the broader narrative around Arteta's progress as a manager capable of delivering in the biggest matches.
What it means going forward
Praise from former players and pundits is not unusual after a big result, but Sturridge's specific focus on the structure and coherence of Arteta's system reflects a broader shift in how the Spaniard's work is being assessed. Arsenal have increasingly been able to control games against elite opposition rather than simply absorb pressure, and Sunday's win at Anfield fits that pattern.
Arsenal will look to carry the momentum from this result into their upcoming fixtures as they continue to push on multiple fronts this season. The victory at Anfield will be remembered as a marker of how far Arteta's system has come, regardless of how the rest of the campaign unfolds.
