And after all of that, and there was a lot of all of that, the gap remains the same. Seven points looked big, even for this early stage of the season, one would have been enormous. A draw leaves it at four, and Manchester City the real winners.
For Arsenal, this was a case of what might have been. Without William Saliba they were on the back foot immediately. Bukayo Saka’s return to the side didn’t take long to have been worth the wait, though. His goal was evidence of the best of Arsenal, the best of Saka.
Fighting this injury beast is becoming an unwinnable task. It’s costing them. First Gabriel Magalhaes – a huge blow – and then Jurrien Timber too. As the fixture list ramps up, could this be the thing that Arsenal turn to and point at as a game-changer? And not a good one?
Really, though, Arsenal haven’t been at their best yet this season. They lacked the quality to put Liverpool away in the first-half when things were in their favour. What Mikel Arteta’s side doesn’t lack is heart.
They can claw away at matches to stay in them. Here, Liverpool themselves didn’t do enough to win a game that unfolded in front of them. A draw that both sides will take but could have been more
