The second weekend of November changed the trajectory of the Premier League title race, with both Liverpool and Arsenal dropping points. This gave Man City the advantage, and they are now four points behind the title favourites this season, Arsenal.
Liverpool’s 3-0 defeat at the Etihad was like hitting a lucky lottery result for Arsenal, instantly boosting the Gunners into the position of Premier League title favourites this season. This defeat was the Premier League title boost that Arsenal had been waiting for. The loss to Manchester City means that Liverpool has already lost more games over the last few months than the entirety of their title-winning campaign.
What’s been happening to Liverpool?
Arne Slot’s team started off the season on a high note, after winning their first five matches, even beating Arsenal at Anfield. The team already started off as the clear favourites, having an excellent squad and adding Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak, Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Friimpong.
However, there were warning signs. In most of the games, except the 2-1 win over Everton, the winning goal came in the 83rd minute or later. In fact, Liverpool let a two-goal lead slip three different times.
However, once the momentum shifted, the end had come. Six straight defeats, in all competitions, and four consecutive losses in the Premier League might have sealed Liverpool’s fate. Slots’s side tried to come back with a win over Aston Villa, but Sunday’s loss to Man City might have ruined everything.
Arsenal taking advantage
With Liverpool being kicked from the top, the Gunners were gathering points. Arsenal was seven points clear of the champions before facing Burnley in the first weekend of November. That gap stretched to double digits after winning 2-0, but Liverpool closed it back by beating Aston Villa in the same manner later that day.
Unfortunately, Mikel Arteta’s squad dropped points after the 2-2 draw with Sunderland, giving a good opportunity for one team to come out strong during the Etihad game.
However, Erling Haaland and Nico Gonzales showed dominance over the Reds in the first half of the game, with Haaland even missing an early penalty. Virgil van Dijk thought that he had equalised, but his goal was ruled out for being offside. By the end of the game (Pep Guardiola’s 1000th game as a manager), it was clear that Liverpool were out of the race.
Now, the gap between the Gunners and the Reds remains eight points, but Pep’s side seems to be coming fast for Arteta. With only a four-point difference, Arsenal has a new rival.
Manchester City’s threat is real!
The win at the Etihad brought back the threat that Man City held for three straight seasons. After having a shaky 2024/25 season, City were forgotten about. But you cannot forget the fact that Pep’s squad won the title for three straight seasons in the last four seasons. The capability that comes with the roaring Haaland is massive, making the team a top contender for the current season. And Arteta knows this.
In the 2023/24 season, Arsenal were denied the win after City gathered 91 points, only two points clear of the Gunners. City’s last game was the determining factor as to whether Arsenal would win the cup, after a long dry spell. However, the 3-1 win over West Ham shattered that dream. Well, in this season, Arsenal are still the favourites, but there are still 27 games left in the league.
Arsenal might be coming back stronger after injuries
Arsenal has been plagued by injuries the past few months, but things look like they are taking shape. For instance, Gabriel Jesus already returned to full training after a 10-month break from an ACL injury. According to John Cross from The Mirror, Arsenal are looking to schedule a game for him during the international break.
Reports state that the forward has been making great strides in the last couple of weeks and is working really hard to get back into first-team action ASAP. But since he’s been out of action for a long time, Arteta will want to take him slowly before he can take on any competitive football. That’s why there are reports of him being involved in friendlies during this international break.
In other injury reports, Victor Gyokeres and Noni Madueke are confident of rejoining the team in the next game against Tottenham Hotspur. The North London Derby, to be held on 23rd November, at the Emirates, might be the revealer of whether the Gunners are able to carry the EPL trophy, or it’s just a dream. Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard are also expected to return to the squad very soon. Kai Havertz is the only person who is out and is reportedly expected to be back within the next month.
If Arteta can get all six players back to the squad within the next month or so, the squad would be in a very strong position even before the second leg of the season. But that is dependent on whether Arteta can keep a healthy team through the season.
Arsenal is in a great spot so far, but it’s up to the team to keep up their good work. When asked about being the “favourites” of the current season, Bukayo Saka stated that all they are focused on is winning every game. Whether they are the top contenders or not, that’s other people’s business. For the Gunners, they don’t want to pay attention to critics and external noises since they are always fluctuating. For now, it’s about focusing on what really matters. Winning each game.