Are Arsenal Premier League title contenders after Liverpool win?

Arsenal secured an impressive 3-2 win over Liverpool to return to the top of the Premier League and some are suggesting that the Gunners are in the title race.

Last week’s win over Tottenham in the North London derby was a good starting point regarding how far this team could go. It was billed as the game where we would find out a lot about Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal and they passed the tricky examination with aplomb. But, a tougher assignment followed in the form of Jurgen Klopp’s Reds.

Arsenal had won just twice in their last eight meetings against Liverpool in all competitions, scoring just four goals while conceding 15. But heading into this clash, both teams had a considerably different feel.

Are Arsenal Premier League title contenders after Liverpool win?

The Gunners were flying high, losing just one game in all competitions, and Liverpool had stuttered and spluttered along. The gap between the two was 11 points at kick-off, with the potential to go to 14 with an Arsenal win.

Now renowned for starting fast, it took Arsenal 58 seconds to open the scoring through a well-taken Gabriel Martinelli strike. Liverpool were shell-shocked but they quickly re-gathered themselves, took control of the game and were rewarded through a Darwin Nunez equaliser.

With seconds left in the first half, a swift counter-attack from the Gunners resulted in Martinelli finding Bukayo Saka at the back post, with the winger tapping home.

It was an excellent conclusion to the opening period, but Liverpool are still Liverpool, so they were always going to have their moments. It didn’t take long after the restart for the visitors to draw level again, this time through Roberto Firmino.

Twice ahead, twice pulled back. In years gone by, Arsenal would have wilted, and Liverpool would have found a way to win, but Mikel Arteta’s side are different.

A penalty to the Gunners courtesy of a Thiago kick on Gabriel Jesus gave Saka a chance to give his team the lead again. The penalty was dispatched, and Arsenal were able to hold on and secure a famous victory and just about end Liverpool’s title hopes in the process.

So, are Arsenal title contenders? The fan inside me is riding high on a wave of emotion, so it is feasible, but based on what we have seen throughout the early parts of the season so far, you would have to say yes.

In the only game they lost, away to Manchester United, they were the better side. They have passed almost every test. Against Spurs, a rigid unit to break down, Arsenal slammed three past them and were full value for the win.

Then against Liverpool, which according to many, was the true test of their credentials, Arsenal again went toe-to-toe and came out on top.

Now, it is only nine games into a 38-game season, so we will hold our horses on proclaiming the Gunners, but what they did was enter the race as the second-best in the hunt for glory.

That is some start. They are 14 points ahead of Liverpool, nine ahead of Manchester United, and eight ahead of Chelsea. Also, their next three games are winnable, away to Leeds, away to Southampton, and then home to Nottingham Forest.

Can the Gunners win the Premier League? The jury is still out on that, but one thing is for sure, they have become Manchester City’s biggest threat to the Premier League crown.