Liverpool’s dramatic 2-1 defeat to Chelsea, sealed by a stoppage-time thunderbolt, was more than a mere loss; it was a seismic shift that handed Arsenal an unexpected, and potentially invaluable, gift in the Premier League title race.
Combined with the Gunners’ business-like 2-0 win over West Ham—a fixture that has caused painful slips in the past—Mikel Arteta’s side leapfrogged Liverpool into first place (16 points to 15) after seven games. While it’s far too early to declare the drought over—which stretches back to the 2003-04 Invincibles season—Liverpool’s sudden vulnerability validates every move made at the Emirates and frames Arsenal as the new front runners.
The mentality shift: From near misses to seizing the moment
For years, Arsenal’s title challenges have been defined by the feeling that they missed their moment, falling short against rivals setting impossible standards. This time, the narrative has flipped, and it speaks directly to the hardened mentality Arteta has forged.
Arteta has previously lamented that Arsenal’s points totals in recent seasons were enough to win the title “in normal circumstances.” The essence of his point was that the team needed to be perfect to beat Manchester City. Now, with Liverpool reeling, perfection is no longer the prerequisite—consistency is the king.
This shift has been driven by a defiant spirit, best summed up by the manager’s own unwavering conviction: “Over my dead body will we stop thinking that way [about winning the league].” The crucial wins against Newcastle and West Ham, delivered while the reigning champions imploded, show this new Arsenal is capable of delivering when their rivals stumble—a sign of true title-winning mettle.
The exposed foundation: Arsenal’s defensive and tactical edge
Liverpool’s high-risk approach under their new manager has resulted in two consecutive late defeats, shredding the illusion of champion invincibility. This slump exposes a structural vulnerability that Arsenal, built on steel and control, simply do not share.
The key difference lies in the defensive foundations:
Liverpool’s open midfield and defensive disarray has meant they have conceded more than double the goals of the Gunners. This data highlights why Arsenal’s defensive base—marshalled by William Saliba and anchored by Declan Rice—is their greatest psychological weapon. It means the team needs fewer goals to win, reducing pressure and maximising the value of every point.
The Gyökeres paradox: The focal point that unlocks everything else
The narrative around striker Viktor Gyökeres—who has failed to score in three of his last league outings—often misses the point, and in doing so, perfectly explains why Arsenal are currently top.
Arsenal’s main problem last season was an inability to puncture low blocks; opponents figured out how to shut down space for Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard. Gyökeres was signed not just to score 30 goals, but to fundamentally alter the opposition’s defence.
As Arteta recently said after the striker was denied a goal against West Ham: “I just went there and hugged him and said thank you because the work that he does is unbelievable for the team. The way he stretches the back four and the spaces he opens. I mean today how he hasn’t scored a goal, I don’t know!”
This is the Gyökeres paradox:
- The magnet: His physicality and relentless forward runs force two centre-backs to mark him (often described as playing “2v1” or “3v1”). This creates the vital space and wide 1v1 situations that Saka thrives in, and the central channels that Martin Ødegaard and Eberechi Eze use to break lines.
- The link-up: Gyökeres is a pivot, allowing Declan Rice and Ødegaard to play incisive vertical passes off him, shifting the attack from slow, patient buildup to quick, direct penetration.
His presence ensures that even when the goals aren’t flowing directly from his boots, his gravity is creating the chances that are allowing Arsenal’s other stars to win games. He is the missing piece that ensures Arsenal no longer suffer from “dominance without end product.”
Liverpool’s current turmoil is a moment of opportunity granted by chance. But it is a testament to the club’s long-term plan, the defensive solidarity of this team, and the tactical impact of players like Gyökeres that Arsenal is in the perfect position to seize it.
The Premier League has shown its hand, and the table is finally red and white. Now, the mandate for the international break is clear: return with the focus, fitness, and collective will to ensure this gift is converted into the title that finally ends two decades of waiting. The time to make history is now.
Images courtesy of Reuters/Action Images