A comprehensive besting of an abject Crystal Palace, and successfully navigating a stubborn, if limited, Nottingham Forest has been therapy for Arsenal after previously being on the ropes.

Just one win in seven across all comps had the doubters seriously doubting and with key players looking wearied, and Mikel Arteta looking worried, this felt like something more substantial than a mini-dip, the like of which they encountered last season at a similar stage.

Far too many chances were being missed, passes were going astray, while at the back a defence that had kept clean sheets in 41% of their games going into their bad spell was now concerningly susceptible to cut-backs and corners.

That latter flaw is ironic given that Arsenal boast a league-high number of goals scored from set-pieces this term.

To the rescue came the schedule, a mini-break, coupled with a third round exit in the cup, that gave the Gunners a much needed opportunity to regroup and reset. It means they go into Sunday’s clash having played only two games in the last calendar month.

Even amidst a mini-crisis, Arsenal’s shot-count stayed impressively high while Liverpool have averaged 9.6 shots on target in their last 5 league outings. Over 8.5 SOT total at 9/10 is well worth a punt

It was clearly a period of downtime spent productively in Dubai recharging the batteries and this collective revival is best illustrated by Bukayo Saka’s performance at the City Ground midweek.

Throughout much of December the 22-year-old was running through treacle but against Forest he put together four key passes, scored what turned out to be the winner, and was sharp in movement and thought. Moreover, it should worry this weekend’s opponents, and the rest of the league, that the most important component in Arsenal’s attacking armoury appeared to get sharper as the game progressed.

Gabriel Jesus meanwhile will benefit hugely from bagging his first goal since Christmas, though as per with the frustrating Brazilian he needed five ‘range-finders’ before converting.

The striker has a surprisingly decent record against the Reds, with eight goal involvements from 11 previous meetings.

Add in Martin Odegaard showing signs of getting his mojo back and it can be said that Arsenal’s therapy sessions against Palace and Forest have undoubtedly been a success. Their confidence has returned and so too has the fluidity, while seven goals in two games is not to be sniffed at, even if some Gooners on the forums still fret about a lack of a cutting edge.

Only now come Liverpool, a team they have beaten only twice in the league across Jurgen Klopp’s nine years at the helm, and staying with the counselling theme, what they can expect on Sunday afternoon is a great big primal scream to the face.

Liverpool have scored 2+ goals in each of their last five visits to the Emirates. Over 1.5 goals for the Reds is a logical shout @ 13/10

The Reds are back to their bombastic best and this has been true for quite some time.

Even without Mo Salah they have continued their ruthless prolificacy, scoring two-plus goals in 77% of their fixtures in 2023/24, and even without Trent Alexander-Arnold they have not missed a beat. Indeed, it’s testament to how superbly well Conor Bradley has done in his place that nobody is sure if Trent will start at the Emirates, despite being fully fit.

The returning Andy Robertson however very likely will start, tasked with shackling Saka while also bombing on in the right moments and this judicious approach worked perfectly at Arsenal in the FA Cup three weeks ago where pressure was soaked up before two late sucker-punches were administered.

This brings us to one of the most intriguing aspects to Liverpool’s season, that if all games finished after 45 minutes they would presently be sixth. Granted, this is always a silly metric to go off, and yet it does highlight how patient Klopp’s men are this term, sussing opponents out before capitalizing.

With Mac Allister and Szoboszlai in the middle this is a cleverer Liverpool to before.

And with Diogo Jota coming in off the left they have just the man to take full advantage, the Portuguese attacker compensating for Darwin Nunez’s obsession with the woodwork by accruing nine goal involvements in six since Boxing Day.

Back Jota to score anytime and the visitors to win the second half at a tempting 14/1

The only time Liverpool have lost this season in the league was in North London but it doesn’t feel like history will repeat itself here, even when factoring in Arsenal’s revival.

There is a one-sided head-to-head record to consider. The emphatic manner in which Chelsea were dispensed with on Wednesday. Jota’s blistering form. It all points to an away win and an improving Arsenal facing a hefty deficit to claw back in the title race.

Look out too for the hosts’ discipline to slip. The Gunners may be top of the fair play table but this fixture tends to bring out the worst in them and in the last three clashes we’ve seen 20 yellows cards, ten dished out apiece.

Ben White has been booked in two of his last three encounters with the Reds.

Back White to be carded and over 5.5 cards total at 21/5

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