Arsenal information: Mikel Arteta’s personal dialog emerges as supervisor hits out

Arsenal sit top of the Premier League table after their 1-0 victory over Liverpool on Sunday, with Declan Rice sharing details of a private chat with manager Mikel Arteta

Arsenal are back on their perch at the top of the Premier League, leapfrogging Manchester City after Enzo Maresca’s side slipped up against Brighton. And Declan Rice has now opened up about his private chat with Mikel Arteta.

Rice has been one of the standout stars for the Gunners this season, and he was everywhere against Liverpool on Sunday. Rice has now opened up about why he has such an upturn in form this season.

However, not everyone is happy with what happened over the weekend. And Daily Star Sport has rounded up all the biggest stories from Anfield over the past 24 hours…

Andoni Iraola’s fury

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In the 21st minute, a Liverpool cross whipped into the box and Isak jumped under pressure from Timber but failed to connect. However, replays clearly showed the Arsenal defender had grabbed a fistful of Isak’s shirt just as the ball flew past.

Isak chose not to appeal for a foul and instead remained upright, exchanging words with Timber. Referee Andy Madley allowed play to continue and VAR opted not to step in.

Yet after the final whistle, Liverpool boss Iraola insisted his team deserved a spot kick and went as far as threatening to instruct his players to hit the deck more readily in future.

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.”

Private Mikel Arteta chat

Meanwhile, Declan Rice, who provided the assist for Havertz’s winner at Anfield, has lifted the lid on the candid conversation he shared with Arteta ahead of this campaign.

“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 Arsenal teammates now face a midweek European journey to Prague on Wednesday night, reports the Mirror.

The Gunners sit seventh in the Champions League table following two victories and a draw in their most recent outing against Bayern Munich.