ARSENAL celebrated beating Liverpool on Sunday like they’d won the Premier League title. This irked some (including Jamie Carragher) who believed the Gunners should have maintained their focus after an important 3-1 victory. This, however, fails to recognise the significance of what unfolded at the Emirates Stadium.

If Arsenal win their first Premier League title since the days of Arsene Wenger this season, they will surely look back on Sunday’s match as the moment that pointed them in the direction of glory. Defeat to Liverpool would have effectively eliminated the Gunners from realistic title contention. Instead, they are now back in the thick of things.

Mikel Arteta’s team are five points worse off than they were at the same stage of the season last year. Indeed, Arsenal were top of the Premier League table after 23 fixtures last season and so it could be strongly argued that the Gunners have regressed over the last 12 months with Liverpool still clear at the top of the standings even after Sunday’s result.

In another, less tangible way, though, there is a sense Arsenal are in a better position to win the title this season than last. While the Gunners crumbled from a position of strength last season, allowing Manchester City to pass them down the home stretch, they are currently peaking at the right time having won each of their last three league fixtures. 

The festive period was difficult for Arsenal who suffered damaging defeats in the league to West Ham and Fulham. Liverpool and Manchester City appeared ready to set the pace at the top of the Premier League table for the rest of the campaign. Arsenal’s recovery since then, however, has been impressive. 

“We are there, that’s for sure,” Arteta said when asked if Arsenal’s title challenge was back on after beating Liverpool. “We want to continue to be there. We’ve been really ­consistent all season, if not you aren’t where we are today. We take it game by game and the availability of the squad is going to be crucial, we have learned that from last season. Let’s try to make that happen.”

It wasn’t just the final scoreline of Sunday’s match that made a statement of intent, but the manner of Arsenal’s performance. They beat Liverpool at their own game, pressing high and forcing Jurgen Klopp’s team into uncharacteristic mistakes. There was no fear of the league leaders. 

Something similar happened when Manchester City visited the Emirates Stadium in October. The Gunners lost home and away to Pep Guardiola’s team last season with those results extremely consequential in the table at the end of the campaign – Arsenal would have won the title had they won, not lost, both games.

Mentally, Arsenal are stronger now than they were 12 months ago. They have also strengthened their squad, adding Declan Rice and Kai Havertz last summer, but the biggest difference is in the mind. The Gunners now truly believe they can compete – and beat – the very best. That was evident against Liverpool on Sunday.

Of course, there’s still a long way to go in this season’s Premier League title race. The real winner of Sunday’s match might have been City who can go top of the table if they win their two games in-hand. The Gunners still have a number of tricky fixtures to play, including a potential title showdown against the defending champions at the Etihad Stadium in March.

Nonetheless, there’s a different atmosphere around the Emirates Stadium this season. Arsenal aren’t prepared to let another title challenge slip through their fingers after what happened last year. The Gunners might not have won the title on Sunday, but their celebrations hint at how they are ready to do so.

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