Just when it seemed Arsenal had a clear shot at winning the Premier League - coinciding with Manchester City's 2024/25 drop-off - up popped Liverpool who stand on course to cause the Gunners yet more pain.
Two seasons ago the Gunners had trailed Pep Guardiola's star-studded side by five points in the final standings, last term it was reduced to two points, now with nine rounds remaining of the current competition Mikel Arteta's team have an all-but insurmountable 12-point margin to overcome against their new Merseyside competitors.
Arsenal's boss has said the towel will only be thrown in "over his dead body", though any opportunities to reduce the gap are ebbing away week-by-week.
Thus looking ahead to next season, the Gunners know they will need to strengthen themselves using the transfer market. Man City will no doubt be doing the same, and Liverpool would be wise also as, despite their footing well above everybody else this campaign, their situation is perhaps the most precarious of the big three.
It might be only July 1 - weeks after the summer transfer window opens - that the Reds learn the true fate of their hugely important stars out of contract this summer.
They are captain Virgil van Dijk, vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold and chief goal-scorer Mohamed Salah.
The Egypt talisman has bagged 32 goals in all competitions in 2024/25. Not only that, he has 22 assists on top of that, making him by far the Anfield team's most critical player in achieving success.
To lose him on a free transfer would be disastrous and, therefore, the latest update on his future will come to the delight of those in north London with eyes already on the 2025/26 Premier League title.
"He's one of the best players in the world and he's very well-liked in the Arab community. I wish he'd come here; we've opened the doors for him," Saudi Pro League general manager of marketing communications, Mohammed Basrawi, has admitted.
The SPL chief was speaking to Marca, specifically answering the question: "Salah won't renew with Liverpool. Will he come to Saudi Arabia?"
The 32-year-old being out of the picture would help throw Liverpool's attack into disarray with Cody Gakpo's 16 strikes the next-highest tally in the team - and the Gunners would need to be ready to capitalise by solving their own attacking issues.
This said, Salah has made no active attempt to leave Liverpool, despite having the scope to talk to overseas clubs as he pleases. Rather, he has already expressed disappointment that his future is not tied down to more years with his current club.
And with that Basrawi would also admit: "But, I insist, we don't negotiate that, and we don't know anything about it now. Don't get hung up on just the big names, our job is more to raise the bar for everyone else."
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Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus with the Arsenal Therapy Dog Win during the Arsenal Men's team group shoot at London Colney on September 18, 2023
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