Liverpool can now “only” win the Premier League this season after disappointment at Wembley. Naturally, playing down such a massive achievement like this is absurd, given that it has only happened once in the modern era — but the Reds still need to get it over the line, and Arsenal has just been handed a Bukayo Saka boost.
Wobbling in recent weeks, Liverpool has already earned itself a significant buffer thanks to excellent form for most of the season, not to mention the lack of credible challengers. But Mikel Arteta’s side remains just about within striking distance, and Arne Slot has just been given another reason to take the challenge from the Gunners seriously.
Navigating a potential banana skin against Chelsea (Cole Palmer played no part, but strangely Arsenal fans haven’t been going on about how lucky they are), the North London outfit has moved to within 12 points of Liverpool. A showdown at Anfield still lurks in May, so Slot will know this is not wrapped up just yet.
Nine more performances like the one against Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final would likely produce an historic collapse. The kids saved Jurgen Klopp on the same Wembley stage last season, but a collective loss of steam was already beginning to take hold, and much the same thing is happening again.
That should come as no real surprise, given that Richard Hughes did not equip Slot with any notable new players. It was perhaps fitting that the one new signing, Federico Chiesa, was able to find the net at Wembley — but that was one of his first telling contributions of the campaign, having barely moved the dial in terms of lifting the burden on the existing squad.
Fortunately, Arsenal has also grappled with not having a large enough squad of players Arteta can trust to make a difference. The loss of Saka badly weakened an already faltering challenge.
But there is light at the end of Arsenal’s tunnel of injuries. Gabriel Martinelli returned recently, and Arteta has revealed that Saka is likely to be back after the upcoming international break.
(Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
The Arsenal boss pretended to run out of his Sky Sports interview when asked about Saka. But he returned to confirm that the winger has “a good chance”.
Arsenal will feel that this presents a faint lifeline. If nothing else, it injects some positivity into the camp, at a time where Slot will be tested to his limit to ensure Liverpool does not plummet off the cliff edge.
Because Saka is clearly this Arsenal squad’s talisman. He had five goals and 10 assists in just 16 games before his season was interrupted, and is well-placed to address the chronic shortage of goal threat at the Emirates.
Meanwhile, the next game up for Liverpool is the Merseyside derby. Any shortage of intensity there could prove very costly indeed — the Reds need to dust themselves down from Wembley and finish what they have started.
