On Saturday, Arsenal climbed to the top of the table. That 2-0 win over West Ham saw the Gunners rack up 16 points from seven games, one clear of Liverpool, who have now suffered back-to-back defeats at the hands of Crystal Palace and then Chelsea.
All eyes now turn to Arsenal, with the question being whether they can capitalise on their position, stretch the gap and finally run away with the league title.
Chris Sutton certainly thinks so. Comparing the Gunners and the defending champions, he believes Arsenal are far better equipped than Liverpool to mount a serious title challenge.
Arsenal the stronger side
Sutton said on Radio 5 Live phone-in via Rousing the Kop, “I would be slightly concerned about the full-back areas and that central defensive zone, especially with Marc Guehi not coming in. I watched Arsenal today, and yes, it is West Ham, you can say that, but they cruised to victory.
“Their bench is so, so strong. You look at Liverpool and you think Arsenal have the foundation at the back, the defensive strength, and that is exactly where Liverpool look vulnerable. It is hard to see that changing, isn’t it?”
The impact of Arsenal’s summer transfer activity is plain to see. By signing proven players to bolster squad depth, Mikel Arteta has weaponised this team.
Lessons learnt
Last season, a thin squad and an untimely injury crisis hindered Arsenal’s progress. Had that not happened, Liverpool would not have lifted the title or finished ten points clear.
Now, with arguably the strongest Arsenal side in years, it will be fascinating to see how the title rivals respond. With eyes firmly on the prize, the Gunners are spiritedly chasing that elusive Premier League crown after falling short three times before.
Can we do it this time around Gooners?
Daniel O
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In two games the narrative has changed from Liverpool being favorites to Arsenal. Let’s take one game at a time and push on. We will know better when the Christmas lights are up, but until then let’s just enjoy the ride.
Early days but chasing Isaks and glaring in the sweet shop window. Took their eye of the obvious. They have no cover or replacements for aging, VVD and Salah. They didn’t replace Diaz and Trent Arnold. They have two very good strikers but at what cost? We will see but last season they had a very balanced squad. Have they this.
Reggie
I was thinking the same thing in terms of squad balance. Also, they lack the quality of depth like us, so injuries may or may not derail Liverpool.
Lastly, their fullbacks have to settle, and so far the Liverpool defense has been porous; giving up goals compared to us been stingy on the defensive side.
Too early for me to make any predictions, but come the end of the busy December schedule and possibilities of injuries, the picture will be a little clearer. If our places are reversed from last year, I don’t think Liverpool can go on an undefeated run to catch the leader.
We are winning the league,i think we have wethered the early storm by beating Newcastle away and seeing Liverpool loose at palace.am not sure of the champioms league though.
And the invincible lives on…
The pundit is right, it will boil right down into a two horse race.
The hungry vs experience
Liverpool transfer window looks great on paper until you actually analyze what they needed and actually bought. Buying 2 strikers for 145 and 95m was a waste of fund. they bought an overlapping left back who’s best rampaging on the wings and make him play him inverted like us exposing his weaknesses. Wirtz is a great talent no doubt but he’s unbalanced the midfield.
They should have prioritised Ghehi over Isaks, for starters.
It was madness. All of those players are excellent, but then you somehow have to integrate them and play to their strengths. Slot’s obviously a pretty good coach, but the proof, as they say, will be in the pudding. Last year he was working with the team built over several years by Klopp. Now we get to find out if he’s really as good as winning the league last year made him look.
Early days peeps
I honestly didn’t expect the champion wobbling so early.
Seems they are not comfortable been hunted
The EPL title is ours for the taking (could be, would be) if PGMOL don’t put a cog under our bus and maintain a consistent non-biased referring by doing away with the erroneous officiating of seasons past. Do y’all trust VAR? personally, I don’t.
City aren’t far behind, this will be an interesting race. Who comes on top!? We will have to wait and sea. Do we have a chance? Of course we do. We need Arteta to be on his A game more so towards the end.
Slot was widely lauded for not rocking the boat after Klopp’s departure and bought just one player, Chiesa who was a punt due to a previous serious injury, and barely played a part.
This season is an entirely different kettle of fish and it could, with hindsight, be considered an error in not freshening up the team a wee bit in the first place, as time does not stand still. Its been the same team for 2 years. VVD and Salah are getting on, and integrating new players isn’t always immediately successful.
As with Arteta once he introduced new players, it is Slot’s team now after the last transfer window so it will be interesting to see how successful he will be.
It will be interesting Sue. For me some glaring errors of judgement in the way this seasons squad has turned out. To me very obvious ones. Salah and VVD are not going to get better and the cove he had around the team has gone. Glaringly playing Slobaslai at RB. STUPID!!!! But I think he knows that the squad is not right. Whos fault is that? Slots ? Or the director of football? If they have one.
Not cove but cover.
They do have a director of football Reggie. It’s a role I find difficult to comprehend at times and one I hope involves the D of F and the manager when it comes to transfer policy and the type of player brought in. Liverpool spent a lot of money – and likewise, so did Arsenal and foisting players on the manager/coach is a recipe for disaster imo
The manager should, with the director of football, identify the type of player he wants and th DOF goes to get it. Thats his job. Who decided that Isak and Wirz were more needed (or that type of player) over defensive cover and replacing players who left or are aging? We don’t know. But I would suggest that after getting Ekitike, they would have been a better team, investing in a CB and a Diaz replcement over Isaks. Salah cannot go on forever (and looks over the hill so far this season) and Frimpong looks more like a winger than a defender. It will be interesting but I do not think Liverpool have improved their squad. They still have very good players but it looks a squad not very well balanced. Early days but🤞
My fingers are also crossed
SueP,
My fingers are crossed. My toes are crossed. My legs are crossed, OOPS! I think I need the toilet. 😂🤣