Point proven? Well, not exactly. Just when Arsenal looked ready to lay down a real marker for their title aspirations, a rejuvenated Liverpool side that has been through the wringer since they were crowned champions last season proved the Gunners are still far from the finished article.
It could have been even worse for Mikel Arteta’s side if Liverpool had been awarded one of two potential penalties or if Conor Bradley’s brilliant chip had not struck the crossbar in the first half. Arne Slot will be delighted with the way his much-maligned defence coped with Arsenal’s threat before the break.
But the fact that Arsenal didn’t even manage a shot on target in the second half until a Gabriel Jesus header in injury time will be of huge concern for Arteta as Viktor Gyökeres put in another ineffective display up front. They may be six points clear of Manchester City and Aston Villa at the top of the table but it promises to be a nerve-wracking few months in these parts.
Arteta had called on the Arsenal supporters to “make the difference” as they attempted to take advantage of City and Villa’s slip-ups on Wednesday night. Even the torrential rain before kick-off caused by Storm Goretti could dampen the feeling of optimism as the home fans held up a mosaic of red and white plastic bags when the teams emerged.
