The 2023-24 Premier League season may change into the one by which Arsenal win their first league title in 20 years. A 1-1 draw with Liverpool at Anfield is simply the type of consequence that may assist them attain their purpose. Whereas the Gunners weren’t at their greatest throughout an away journey to one of many hardest environments within the Premier League, the truth that they have been capable of escape whereas nonetheless sitting atop the Premier League on Christmas for the second consecutive season exhibits their endurance.

On one other day, Gabriel Martinelli’s probability in entrance of an open web could go in, however Trent Alexander-Arnold’s shot to cap off a four-on-one assault could find yourself beating David Raya in web as an alternative of clanging off the crossbar. It is a sport that may be determined by mere centimeters, however even the destiny of those two possibilities exhibits that there was nothing to separate the perimeters. However for Arsenal, as the present league leaders, that is okay. Some extent is at all times higher than no factors, particularly when it will possibly preserve a slim one-point lead atop the Premier League.

Final season, the Gunners made it by the primary week of January earlier than seeing their title possibilities unravel amid a three-match winless streak that noticed momentum shift to the eventual champions, Manchester Metropolis. However in conserving matches like this one underneath management from the primary to the final minute, it exhibits development within the Gunners that may assist them keep away from the destiny that befell them final season.

With the draw at Anfield, the Gunners now have a six-point lead on Manchester Metropolis, however it appears bigger than it really is because of Metropolis’s match with Brentford needing to be postponed whereas Pep Guardiola and the staff have been in Saudi Arabia lifting the Membership World Cup. Which will appear to favor the Manchester Membership, however when Arsenal have already defeated them as soon as, scored 5 objectives within the ninetieth minute or later and picked up factors in among the hardest away environments within the league, it is clear that there’s development in Mikel Arteta’s aspect after final season’s disappointment.

A few of that development is as a result of signing of Declan Rice, who has two of these objectives after the ninetieth minute. Rice has slotted seamlessly into the aspect, and his dropping into protection when Oleksandr Zinchenko drove ahead is among the greatest causes Arsenal have been capable of maintain Liverpool at bay, organising fairly a race for the Premier League championship. Arsenal, Aston Villa, Liverpool and Manchester Metropolis are all solely separated by three factors, so each missed probability could make the distinction within the title race.

Taking into consideration the resilience on this Arsenal aspect, it’s unlikely that they will repeat their errors from final season. If they’ll lose the title, their closest rivals will must be higher than them in head-to-head matches, and whereas Liverpool put in a powerful efficiency, they weren’t higher than Arsenal on Saturday. So long as Arsenal can proceed that pattern because the season goes on, there is no purpose why they can not finish the season lifting that coveted trophy.