While Arsenal’s draw against Liverpool on Easter Sunday will have been disappointing given the fast start they had to the match at Anfield, a point can still be considered useful as they look to try and win their first Premier League title for 20 years.
The Gunners went 2-0 up inside the first 28 minutes of the game after Brazilian duo Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus both managed to find the net. Mohamed Salah managed to pull one back before the half-time whistle to give Mikel Arteta’s side a 2-1 advantage at the break.
The score could have been leveled by the Egyptian just minutes into the second half as Liverpool were awarded a penalty. However, Salah squandered the kick from 12 yards out as he put the ball past the post – not for the first time this season, as he did the same against AFC Bournemouth a month ago in their shock 1-0 defeat.
Nonetheless, Roberto Firminio popped up just minutes before the end of the game to give the Reds a point and take two points away from Arsenal; albeit in a game where the hosts had more of the ball and more chances overall.
Will two dropped points be a disaster for Arsenal?
With Manchester City having dispatched the Premier League’s bottom club Southampton on Saturday evening with ease, the gap between the two clubs had decreased to five points as Pep Guardiola’s side continue to hunt down the Gunners.
The three points would have been better for Arteta’s side but it is important to realize that another point on the board is good; especially when Anfield has posed the north London outfit a number of issues in the past.
Although the record still stands, Arsenal have not won at Anfield in any competition since September 2012; a record that everyone associated with the club knows about. The last Premier League meeting in Liverpool ended with the hosts running out 4-0 victors back in November 2021.
The point, though, will have been welcomed, as it meant they took their advantage to six points over City, and with eight games to go, there is greater confidence that the Gunners will be able to win their first title in almost two decades when they went unbeaten and became known as “The Invincibles” in 2003/04.
Under the management of Arsene Wenger, Arsenal won the title without losing a single game throughout the entire league campaign. They won 26 games and drew 12, finishing the season with 90 points, 11 points ahead of second-placed Chelsea.
Will Arsenal see out the rest of the season?
With a six-point lead, there has been some tension being experienced, especially as it has been so long since the club won the league. This tension can be witnessed within the latest odds, as betting online platforms have noticed that Manchester City are still the favorites to win. They are listed at -138, whereas Arsenal are currently listed at +110. While there is no guarantee that this outcome will happen, most know sportsbooks do not typically get things wrong in this regard.
Some suggest Man City are favorites because of the fixtures that Arsenal still have left to play. Their final six games consist of:
- Manchester City (away)
- Chelsea (home)
- Newcastle United (away)
- Brighton (home)
- Nottingham Forest (away)
- Wolves (home)
Each of the teams still left to face have something to play for, while the club’s record or recent history does not make for good reading. The biggest test, undoubtedly, will be against Man City on April 26, with many marking it down as a title-decider. The Citizens also have a game in hand, so if they win that and the game against Arsenal, they could go level on points with a far superior goal difference because of the efforts from Erling Haaland all season.
Could we be celebrating an Arsenal league success?
Of course, with how well the club has been playing this season and no team seemingly appearing to be too big of a challenge for Arteta’s men, there is every chance that we could see Arsenal winning the Premier League title for the first time in 19 years.
The club clearly looks to be heading in a different direction under the Spaniard and they do not look scared or as fragile as they have in the past. Experience and game management will certainly be key in the final eight games, but if they can do what they have for the majority of the campaign, then the Gunners could be celebrating their historic 14th league title; the fourth in the Premier League era!
