There is a long way to go in the title race, but the weekend just gone should have strengthened Arsenal’s belief that this can be their year.
Mikel Arteta’s side beat Brighton 2-0 to return to the top of the Premier League, as both Liverpool and Manchester City dropped points.
Arsenal dominated Brighton at Emirates Stadium, and their display was in stark contrast to the performances of Liverpool and City, who both showed frailties.
Liverpool failed to find a way past Manchester United as they drew 0-0 yesterday, while City conceded twice in the final 15 minutes to blow a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace on Saturday.
That draw for City means the champions have won just one of their last six League games. They are fourth in the table and trail Arsenal by five points - and that gap could extend to eight points if the Gunners can end their 11-year wait for a win at Anfield on Saturday.
Defeat to Brighton in May effectively ended Arsenal’s title race last season, and so it was fitting that this win over Roberto De Zerbi’s side emboldened their current charge.
The Gunners were played off the park in the corresponding fixture seven months ago and lost 3-0, prompting Arteta to apologise to supporters.
Yesterday’s performance was the total opposite, and the only grievance Arteta had was that Arsenal should have scored more.
Defensively they were excellent, restricting Brighton to one shot on target and ending their run of scoring in 32 consecutive League matches.
“We suffered a lot,” said Brighton boss De Zerbi. “We are not used to suffering in this way. We are used to controlling the game. I think Arsenal are one of the best, maybe this season the best team in the Premier League.”
Arsenal certainly look the least flawed of this year’s title challengers and they will never have a better chance of finally winning at Anfield.
The new midfield assembled by Arteta in the summer is beginning to gel and should head to Merseyside full of confidence.
Declan Rice was imperious at the base of midfield, breaking up play and driving the team forward; Martin Odegaard was back to his creative best; and Kai Havertz scored to make it four goals in his last seven games.
Equally impressive from Havertz, though, was his willingness to do the dirty work. He misplaced just one of his 30 passes, recovered the ball four times and won two duels.
Havertz and Rice have provided Arsenal with a physical presence they lacked in big games, but Anfield will be the true test.
The same goes for the Arsenal back-four, and Saturday will see the two best defences in the division go head-to-head.
The protection from the Gunners’ midfield has helped their defence, but Gabriel and William Saliba have nonetheless looked incredibly dominant.
They bullied Brighton striker Evan Ferguson, who spent much of the first half on the floor, before being hooked on the hour mark.
Saliba has earned plenty of praise this season, but Arteta was quick to laud Gabriel after yet another clean sheet.
“I know his value and what he brings to the team,” he said. “The love he has for defending, to keep a clean sheet and be on it in every single action. What he transmits to the backline is absolutely incredible.”
Such qualities will be vital this weekend as Arsenal head to a ground where they have routinely crumbled.
Arteta is well aware of the challenge Anfield poses, describing the atmosphere last season as a “jungle” and famously playing You’ll Never Walk Alone from pitchside speakers during training two years ago.
Arteta should not feel the need to try anything like that this week, because his side have all the hallmarks of champions.
Saturday, when they will seek to win at Anfield for the first time since 2012, is the moment for them to show it.
