‘I was worried about him’ - Gary Neville makes Mikel Arteta claim after ‘electric’ Arsenal win over Liverpool

Former Manchester United star Gary Neville hailed the job done by Mikel Arteta after his Arsenal side returned to the top of the Premier League with a win against Liverpool.

Manchester City replaced the Gunners at the summit on Saturday after they eased to a 4-0 home win against struggling Southampton - but it is Arteta’s men that will top the table come Monday morning after a hard-earned win over the Reds.

Gabriel Martinelli showed the first signs of what would be a man of the match display when he fired Arsenal in front with just two minutes on the clock but they were pegged back when Darwin Nunez equalised just after the half-hour mark. The Gunners would take a lead into half-time thanks to a Bukayo Saka strike but parity was restored eight minutes into the second-half when Liverpool substitute Roberto Firmino netted.

However, Arsenal would not be denied and they secured a dramatic win when Saka doubled his tally from the penalty spot on 76 minutes after the hardworking Gabriel Jesus had been fouled in the area.

Speaking after the game, former England defender Neville revealed he feared for Arteta’s future after the Gunners missed out on a Champions League place last season - but is encouraged by their ‘electric’ start to the season.

“It’s a huge day for Arsenal,” he told Sky Sports.

“I said before the game that it was a big test and they have come through it.  In the second-half, they outran Liverpool, they outplayed them, and he (Arteta) is so relieved.

“I was worried about him at the end of last season, I thought not qualifying for the Champions League could be fateful for him at Arsenal in terms of his job - but the recruitment in the summer has been good and the start to the season has been electric.

“They are going neck-to-neck with Manchester City at this moment in time, which is some achievement in itself.”

Arsenal are back in action on Thursday evening when they visit Bodo/Glimt in their latest Europa League Group A fixture before returning to Premier League duty with a trip to Leeds United next Sunday.