The good news is that it was better for Arsenal than last season. The bad news is that their run of successive wins was ended at four and they spurned an opportunity to apply pressure to the leaders, Liverpool. And worse, they were denied an 89th-minute winner by a tight – but correct – offside call by the video assistant referee.
Liverpool may feel, with six players out injured and Everton having put four past Wolves on Wednesday, that the postponement of Saturday’s Merseyside derby provided a welcome break before the rigours of the festive programme. However, it also gave Arsenal the opportunity to cut the gap to four which, even having played a game more, does not seem anywhere near as daunting as seven. As it is, the gap is six points and Liverpool have a game in hand. Everything at the moment is coming up Arne Slot.
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