It is just Arsenal's luck that no sooner do Manchester City suffer a major slump in form, that Liverpool are already there taking advantage. The Gunners have been City's closest challengers in each of the last two seasons, but find themselves off the pace this time around.
And that's not because City are way out in front, instead because Liverpool are. The Reds won the big game at Anfield on Sunday afternoon, beating City 2-0.
It puts them well on course to win the Premier League title, even at this early stage of the season. They are now nine points clear of their closest challengers - who are Arsenal at this moment in time, with Chelsea also level on points with the Gunners.
The fact that Liverpool top the table could leave Arsenal supporters tearing their hair out. Just what do they need to do to end their Premier League title drought and claim a top-flight crown for the first time since 2004?
Well, while City's slump may take something extraordinary from Pep Guardiola to get them out of either this season or next, Liverpool are the new problem for Arsenal to master.
But the Gunners may well have some help in that department too. If they cannot overhaul the points difference to Liverpool this season, there are reasons to be hopeful for next year. Three in fact.
Among the impressive performances from Liverpool players against City at Anfield, three stood out for very newsworthy reasons.
Mohamed Salah laid the ball on a plate for Cody Gakpo to open the scoring with a sublime ball across the six-yard box, before converting a second half penalty to secure the points. Virgil van Dijk had two glorious headed chances, one hit the post and one went just wide, while he was at his imperious best at the back too.
Trent Alexander-Arnold was his usual influential self on the ball, pinging balls acorss the pitch and he too hit the post with an effort from range as Liverpool threatened to run riot against the title challengers.
The trio were incredible influential once again and proving to be three of Liverpool's most important players. What do those three all have in common? They're all out of contract in the summer.
Salah has openly spoken out about there having been no talks over a new contract, with the Egyptian suggesting he is "more out than in". Alexander-Arnold and van Dijk are also waiting on talks, with rumours around both of their futures too.
All three will be free to speak to foreign clubs in January over a pre-contract agreement to join for free next summer. And that would be a massive loss to the Reds and a huge boost to any team, like Arsenal, challenging them for the Premier League title next season.
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