Arsenal will head into their upcoming Champions League clash full of confidence after beating Liverpool 1-0 in the Premier League on Sunday

Arsenal carry momentum into Wednesday's Champions League game against Slavia Prague after besting Liverpool on Sunday. The Gunners came away 1-0 winners and tasted victory at Anfield for the first time since 2012.

After Manchester City fell 1-0 to Brighton on Saturday, Mikel Arteta's men faced off against Andoni Iraola's Liverpool with the chance to go clear at the top. And they did just that, with Kai Havertz's 16th-minute strike the only goal in a cagey game.

Liverpool had their chances, with Florian Wirtz hitting the post in the first half, but Arsenal's backline stood strong. They are now three points clear of second-placed City and sit atop the table.

Declan Rice overlapped excellently before his cross was turned home by Havertz against Liverpool. He has now opened up about a private conversation with his manager Arteta that is inspiring his rich vein of form. football.london brings you all the latest news from the Emirates.

Private chat with Mikel Arteta

Rice, who provided the assist for Havertz's solitary strike at Anfield, has disclosed the specifics of the private discussion he held with Arteta at the beginning of this campaign.

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"I think the manager had a really honest conversation with me at the start of the season and still thinks I can do more in this shirt and for this club," Rice told Sky Sports.

"This season so far I've been feeling really good. We spoke about overlaps before this game and I spoke to Havertz about attacking the box with real aggression and he was there. He nearly could have had another one with the same action. I'm so happy for him because he deserves that goal and ultimately to win 1-0."

Rice and his team-mates next face a European fixture away in Prague on Wednesday evening. Arsenal currently sit seventh in the Champions League table following two victories and a draw in their most recent outing against Bayern Munich.

Andoni Iraola's anger

Elsewhere, Iraola has made his true feelings known about a contentious call. In the 21st minute on Sunday, a Liverpool delivery came into the area and Alexander Isak rose under challenge from Jurrien Timber, but could not make contact with the ball. Yet replays revealed the Arsenal defender had clutched Isak's shirt just as the delivery flashed past.

Isak chose not to go down and instead remained upright, exchanging words with Timber. Referee Andy Madley allowed play to continue and VAR chose not to intervene.

However, following the final whistle, Liverpool boss Iraola insisted his team deserved a spot-kick and even suggested he would now instruct his players to go to ground more readily.

A frustrated Iraola said: "I think the [Alexander] Isak one is a clear penalty. He is going to head the ball in front of the goal and they grab him where everyone sees the shirt.

"You don't need a lot just to avoid Alex because the ball just goes in front of him and I don't see the reason why [it is not given]. Probably because he doesn't dive or he doesn't go to the floor – it shouldn't be a reason not to concede a penalty.

"I can say what I think about the situations, but we cannot waste too much time about the refereeing decisions. We have to say what it is, I think it is a pen, but we have to control the things we need to improve to be on the right side of these close games."