Arsenal Vs Liverpool: Title talk too early?

Arsenal were excellent in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Liverpool, leading to some name them as title contenders. But is it too early for such talk?

When Unai Emery arrived at Arsenal, in his introductory press conference, he was asked what success would look like in his first season at the club. The journalist was wanting him to put a target out there, something against which he could be judged, and likely criticised. Emery did not play ball. Instead, he simply said ‘progress’.

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It would be fair to say, nearly three months into his first season at the Emirates, that Emery has met such expectations. But that is still the boring answer, and after Saturday’s 1-1 with Liverpool, in which Emery’s side was excellent, hopes are beginning to rise that this could yet be a winning season.

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During the eight-game unbeaten league streak prior to the Liverpool draw, there were tentative questions regarding Arsenal’s title credentials. Could they be considered genuine challengers, having drawn within two points of the top of the table at one point during the run?

The problem was who they had beaten. They hadn’t really been challenged by high-quality opposition, simply beating opponents that they should be beaten. Liverpool’s trip to the Emirates, then, was a litmus test for this team and their apparent title hopes. The result may suggest that little was learned, but the performances alluded to a very different answer.

Indeed, Alexandre Lacazette, in his post-match press conference, iterated that he and his teammates proved their quality:

"“Yeah [we showed something out there today]. The first big game, we lost. But we know if we work as we do for maybe 12 games, we can have some points. Today, we showed we have the quality to play at the top of the league.”"

Lacazette may be confident about this team. And there may also be a growing confidence in the Emirates stanchions. But I still think that it is a little too early to be talking about this team as genuine title contenders. That is not to say that they are not capable. They are. But given the relentless form of Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool this season, it is difficult to put this Arsenal team in the same tier.

There are too many defensive vulnerabilities, a lack of depth and elite quality in central midfield, and questions regarding their consistency, especially of their attacking players like Mesut Ozil, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

The very fact that Arsenal are being mentioned as possible title challengers is exciting and surprising. Few, I believe, would have thought they would ever be in this position at the start of the season. And yet, here they are. The title talk is still too early. For now. But this has still been an excellent start to the season.