Arsenal’s Title Hopes Diminish After Liverpool’s Dominant Victory
It’s hard to put a positive spin on things for Arsenal right now. Following Liverpool’s convincing 2-0 victory over Manchester City—a win so effortless and understated that it felt almost dismissive, akin to hosting a state funeral at a garden centre—Arsenal now finds themselves a daunting 11 points adrift of the Premier League summit. While they do have a game in hand, an eight-point gap with 33 points still up for grabs across the remaining matches is a significant hurdle.
Post-match analysis saw Roy Keane surprisingly generous in his assessment, stating, “There’s no doubt” that Liverpool will clinch the title. He praised the strength of their squad, commenting, “You look through the spine of the team, very strong and there is a lot of pace too. Mohamed Salah is amazing.” Keane observed the momentum Liverpool has built while others falter, concluding that it’s all but over for their rivals.
Jamie Carragher, having previously withheld his thoughts, echoed Keane’s sentiments, asserting, “Liverpool are going to win the title. Arsenal are in a situation where they’ve got no attackers, they’ve got no strikers, and they’re going to drop more points.” This perspective encapsulates the current sentiment surrounding Mikel Arteta’s squad.
Arsenal’s fortunes took a turn for the worse with a frustrating 1-0 home defeat to West Ham, shattering any illusions that life without Kai Havertz would be manageable. This defeat triggered a six-point swing, creating a significant gap that feels more like a chasm. Arteta expressed his frustration, stating, “I’m really, really annoyed with the things that are in our hands—which is the performance and the result. [We were] nowhere near the levels that we have to hit to have the opportunity to win a Premier League. I’m very much responsible for that, so I’m very, very angry.”
While anger is a valid response, the question remains: is it too late for a turnaround? There are numerous indicators suggesting it might be. The ever-reliable, albeit often inaccurate, Opta supercomputer now assigns Liverpool a staggering 95.8% chance of lifting the trophy, while Arsenal’s odds sit at a mere 4.2%. Among the current Premier League top seven, Arsenal still has to face five formidable opponents: Newcastle, Bournemouth, Chelsea, Nottingham Forest, and Liverpool—traveling to venues such as City Ground, Anfield, Goodison Park, and Old Trafford. In contrast, Liverpool faces only three top-seven teams in their remaining fixtures—Newcastle, Chelsea, and Arsenal—while enjoying the advantage of seven out of their final eleven matches being played at home.
Of course, Arsenal’s upcoming visit to Anfield could prove pivotal, but there’s a substantial risk that it may arrive too late, scheduled for May 10. By then, Liverpool could very well have already secured the title. Should Arne Slot’s side stumble in the interim, an Arsenal victory would still mean they need to secure two more wins than Liverpool across the remainder of the season, aside from that crucial match. While this scenario appears unlikely, it isn’t entirely implausible.
On the flip side, recent performances from Liverpool have displayed slight vulnerabilities, with only two wins in their past five matches. Despite the ongoing scrutiny of Arsenal’s attacking prowess—especially in the absence of Havertz—they have managed to record two more shots on target than Liverpool in their last three outings. Additionally, Arsenal’s defense remains marginally superior, having conceded 23 goals compared to Liverpool’s 26 throughout the league season. If one looks closely, there are glimmers of hope for the Gunners.
Nevertheless, the prospect of everything aligning for Arsenal feels increasingly far-fetched, particularly in light of their injury crisis. Liverpool have been relatively fortunate with their injury list, with only Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez currently sidelined, especially considering how little they have rotated their key players. In contrast, Arsenal is grappling with significant absences: Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, and Takehiro Tomiyasu are out until the 2025-26 season, while Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka are expected to be unavailable until at least March. The ongoing concerns regarding their goal-scoring ability could develop into a long-term issue for Arsenal. Even if Arteta manages to devise a workable solution for their attacking woes, it is unlikely to be a swift or simple process. Time is not on their side as they confront what is now shaping up to be an almost inevitable outcome.
