Arsenal’s grit was commendable, even as they navigated the choppy waters of losing key defenders Gabriel and Jurrien Timber in the latter stages, on top of the suspended William Saliba and the injured Riccardo Calafiori not being available.
These are the challenging circumstances, yet for Arteta and his squad in the cutthroat arena of the Premier League’s upper echelon, the current standings are sounding alarm bells.
The Gunners’ draw with Liverpool only lent a hand to Manchester City, who are comfortably perched at the summit once again. With slim margins for error against Pep Guardiola’s well-oiled sky-blue juggernaut, falling five points adrift so early makes the task dainty.
Over the past two seasons, Arsenal nearly matched the champions step for step, until City’s relentless marches took over, sealing the fate of even Arsenal’s impressive early momentum.
In the 2022-23 season, Arsenal led City by a single point after nine games; last season, they were barely two points behind. Yet, catching up to the ruthless City machine proved too daunting.
This time, the league feels more unpredictable, less destined for a foregone conclusion. Both Arsenal and Liverpool will cross their fingers that this year’s campaign bucks the trend.
When questioned about being five points behind, Arteta confessed, “No one’s thrilled to be trailing by that many points. Ideally, you’d want to be five ahead, but here we are.”
Arsenal showed plenty of mettle, keeping Liverpool at bay with a makeshift backline of Thomas Partey, Ben White, Jakub Kiwior, and the young Myles Lewis-Skelly. However, a lack of aggression and confidence meant they didn’t fully exploit their first-half dominance.
Liverpool’s second-half resurgence was predictable yet unstoppable; Arsenal’s failure to generate chances and conceding significant possession was equally predictable and costly.
The sting of the missed opportunity is amplified by Liverpool’s somewhat sluggish and uninspired play, save for the dangerous presence of Salah.
Salah’s equalizing goal from Darwin Nunez’s pass marks his eighth of the season, leveling him with Robbie Fowler at 163 Premier League goals for Liverpool.
Arteta rightly expressed pride in his team’s performance, as they’ve shown resilience when facing the so-called “Big Six.” It’s been 14 games since their last loss to Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, or Tottenham. However, the fear lingers over lost points and a growing injury list.
Last season, keeping players healthy was crucial for Arsenal’s title quest. Saliba, in this game suspended, appeared in all 38 matches, while Gabriel missed just two. Odegaard and Saka also only missed a couple of games each.
However, Arteta’s squad faces a tougher test this season, with newcomers Merino and Calafiori suffering injuries, alongside Odegaard and Saka. Gabriel’s second half injury, which saw him benched with an ice pack, was particularly worrying given the pivotal role his partnership with Saliba plays in their defense.
With mixed thoughts and emotions, Arteta commented, “I’m exceptionally proud of the team given our current circumstances. We performed brilliantly and with precision, though we squandered chances and conceded two unnecessary goals.”
“Facing five backline injuries is a challenge we have to adapt to. It’s disappointing not to win this match,” he told the BBC’s Match of the Day. “The team was brilliant, dominant, and assertive. We executed well, creating significant opportunities,” Arteta added.
“Transitioning open for their second goal was our downfall. Against this Liverpool side, you can’t allow such slip-ups if victory is the aim.”
Such lapses are costly, and in the relentless pursuit of City, every point dropped stings. The eventful, topsy-turvy duel at the Emirates has tilted the advantage towards City.
As history shows, a five-point lead is a handsome cushion for City’s relentless drive, even this early. Arsenal can only hope it isn’t insurmountable yet.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
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