Liverpool's late show, Arsenal's implosion: Was Saturday the title race's defining day?

At 4.48pm on Saturdy, Arsenal had hope of catching Liverpool. By the end of the day, Arne Slot’s men had one hand on the trophy. Was this the defining day in the title race?

As the clock ticked towards stoppage time in west London with Liverpool being held 0-0 by Brentford, Arsenal fans taking their seats at The Emirates would have been sensing an opportunity.

Could they close the gap to just two points?

But then Darwin Nunez did Darwin Nunez things.

It turned out Liverpool were just teasing.

Nunez’s late double sent the club to a huge three points in the circumstances and the chance for Arsenal to potentially make a serious move in the title race evaporated. By the time the full-time whistle blew at the end of their frantic 2-2 draw with Aston Villa, the home fans had their head in the hands.

The gap now is six points and Liverpool have a game in-hand.

According to the bookmakers, Slot’s men now have a 77 per cent chance of winning the title – it’s the highest percentage probability any team have been this season.

“The swing is massive,” said Sky Sports‘ Paul Merson.

“I’d be shocked if Liverpool didn’t go on to win the title from here. For me, it was too easy from Arsenal, too lackadaisical.

“If you want to win Premier Leagues you’ve got to turn up every day, every week. You’ve got to be prepared to do the business.

“I’ve backed Arsenal the last two years, and thought you know what they have been unlucky, they pushed one of the best teams we have ever seen all the way to the penultimate game and to the last game.

“Now I’m watching them and I think have they got it? When push comes to shove like today?”

Sky Sports’ Gary Neville on co-commentary, said: “Arsenal have blown a 2-0 lead here. There’s some pretty dejected faces on the pitch and around this stadium.

“It’s a big day in the title race and it’s swung even further towards Liverpool.”

Arsenal were in full control of their clash with Aston Villa at 2-0 up but two quickfire goals from Youri Tielemans and Ollie Watkins from crosses that exposed Arsenal’s weakness without William Saliba turned the contest upside down.

On both goals, Merson said: “They’re schoolboy errors. It’s not like teams are opening them up and you’re going ‘oh my god’.

“I don’t care what division you are in, them two goals can be stopped if you do your job.

“All you’re asking for as a manager is for the players to go out there on that pitch and do their job.

“And today certain players let Mikel Arteta down and I don’t think that’s because the squad is shallow because today we saw two big mistakes – Mikel Merino lets Tielemans run off him and honestly, I cannot believe what I have just watched with Thomas Partey [leaving Watkins free to score the equaliser].”

Arteta: Liverpool’s subs won it for them but we are very short

Mikel Arteta said Arsenal are “very short” and hinted that the club must act in the January transfer window following their 2-2 draw with Villa.

Asked if it felt like a pivotal moment in the title race because of Liverpool’s win, he said: “There are moments. Obviously, they managed to do that.

“They made the subs, and the subs made the impact, and they managed to change the game.

“And in our side, it was the opposite, even though, after conceding the two goals very close to each other, the danger was, because I knew how the team was, that we could go down because we were physically drained.

“The team found another gear to go again and just put Aston Villa in there, in the box, and go and go again, trying to find the goal that we haven’t been able to score at the end.”

Despite his side’s fatigue, Arteta only used one substitute in the on-loan Raheem Sterling, who was unable to make an impact.

Asked if the circumstances underlined the need for January reinforcements, he said: “Not the result. When you look at the performances, I don’t know how many teams are playing at this level on the league, but when you look at the bench, probably you say, I think we are very short.”

Asked if he was worried about Saliba’s injury, he added: “Yeah, for sure. Especially with the numbers that we have in the squad and looking at our bench. Very worried.”

He added: “In attack and defending, the level we are playing is so high. We were so good but there is something missing, that line is so thin.

“Today we cannot concede the goals we have done. That line is so thin, we have been punished before and we cannot do it.”

Analysis: If Salah doesn’t get you, the bench will

Sky Sports’ Oli Yew:

Nunez and Liverpool eventually came good, and it is Slot’s ability to be able to empty Liverpool’s bench with fresh attacking options that could be critical in their bid to win a first title in five years.

Liverpool, who were even without the injured Diogo Jota, racked up an incredible 37 shots at Brentford – a record for an away side in the Premier League – but it was their ability to sustain that pressure with fresh legs that eventually got them over the line.

It was Nunez who came to the rescue on this occasion but Harvey Elliott, who has not had as many minutes as he would have liked this season, also played a key role from the bench with an assist for the second.

If Mo Salah, Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo don’t get you, Darwin Nunez, Federico Chiesa and Harvey Elliott will! And when other sides in the league are struggling with injuries and depleted squads, that depth could be the crucial factor in Liverpool’s bid to bring the title back to Anfield.

Frank: Liverpool are a level above

Brentford boss Thomas Frank comparing Liverpool favourably to Arsenal and Manchester City:

“I think we just played City and Arsenal and now Liverpool, in a short amount of time. For me, [Liverpool] are a level above the two teams. They’re complete. Their work ethic, the way they track back, are good indicators.

“They’re so good all over the pitch. Such a threat going forward. These are really, really good. It’s the best team in the Premier League and the world. They’re huge favourites to win it [the title].”