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And with that, surely, the title race is over. Liverpool had drawn four of their previous eight games which had created an opening. Had Arsenal beaten West Ham and Liverpool lost at Manchester City this weekend, the title would have been in Arsenal’s hands, at least to the extent that they would have won it if they had won every game they had remaining this season, including away at Liverpool. But, after Arsenal limped to a 1-0 defeat, Liverpool produced their best performance in weeks to win 2-0. The gap is 11 points and, even though Arsenal have a game in hand, it’s very hard to imagine either Liverpool dropping sufficient points or Arsenal winning enough for that to be overturned.

Arteta described himself as “very, very angry” after his side’s defeat, admitting they were “nowhere near the levels that we have to hit to have the opportunity to win the Premier League”. But there’s been an element of that all season. This was only Arsenal’s third league defeat of the campaign, but there has been something distinctly underwhelming about them. Too many points have been frittered too cheaply. Too often they have failed to grasp chances. And too often ill-discipline has let them down.

Myles Lewis-Skelly’s red card on Saturday was the fifth Arsenal have collected this season. That’s not a sign, as a significant proportion of Arsenal’s support would insist, of referees being against them but of their players repeatedly committing needless offences. Sure, other teams have got away with kicking the ball away, but the best way not to get a second yellow card for kicking the ball away is a) not to get a first yellow card; and b) not to kick the ball away.



Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard were both dismissed for the most pointless offence and in both games, at home to Brighton and away at Manchester City, wins became draws.

Premier League: 10 talking points from the weekend’s actionRead more

William Saliba was sent off as they lost 2-0 at Bournemouth.

That’s 10 points gone in games Arsenal finished with 10 men: 10 extra points would have Arsenal a point behind Liverpool with a game in hand.

Where Arsenal have been unfortunate is with injuries: to lose Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus simultaneously would be extremely hard for any squad to deal with.

Again and again this season, there has been a sense of acquiescence in disappointment: not only on Saturday, but also in the defeat at Bournemouth, in the draws to home to Everton and Aston Villa and away to Fulham and Brighton.

They lack a certain edge, the capacity to get the job done even in unfavourable circumstance, the hardness of champions.

It was their seventh 2-0 league win of the season; a margin that typifies their ability to win comfortably without overextending themselves, the scoreline of champions.

Even if Arsenal can somehow find an inner resolve and rally to win every Premier League game until the end of the season – although their focus will surely now shift to the Champions League – they could only get to 89 points.

That means 26 points from their final 11 games guarantees the title for Liverpool.
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