Premier League Key Talking Points: Arsenal Strengthen Title Charge As Man City And Liverpool Falter

‎Arsenal seized a commanding grip on the Premier League title race this weekend after edging out Crystal Palace 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium.

‎With title rivals Liverpool and Manchester City both suffering defeats, Mikel Arteta’s men now sit comfortably at the summit and it’s beginning to feel like their title to lose.

‎Arsenal’s Relentless Pursuit of Glory

‎Having finished as runners-up for three consecutive seasons, Arsenal’s patience and persistence under Mikel Arteta finally appear to be paying off. Sunday’s hard-fought victory over Crystal Palace was another example of the Gunners’ maturity a blend of defensive resilience, tactical discipline, and clinical set-piece efficiency.

‎Eberechi Eze’s goal against his former club proved decisive, coming after Palace failed to deal with a dangerous Declan Rice free-kick. The result marked Arsenal’s club-record run of clean sheets, with the team conceding just three times in 13 matches across all competitions.

‎Despite not yet finding full attacking fluency, Arteta’s side continues to grind out results the hallmark of potential champions.

‎“I told the boys that I value this victory more than any other victory this season,” Arteta said.

‎“We knew the difficulty of it after playing every three days. It was also a significant opportunity, given the events that occurred over the weekend.

‎“But I knew we were playing against a team who have, in my opinion, been one of the best in terms of organisation and how frustrated they can make you. The moment you lose concentration they will punish you.”

‎With a six-point lead over Manchester City and a seven-point cushion ahead of Liverpool, Arsenal are in pole position to end their 22-year wait for a Premier League crown.

‎Liverpool’s Slide Continues

‎While Arsenal rise, Liverpool are unraveling. A 3-2 defeat to Brentford extended the Reds’ run without a clean sheet to nine matches, leaving new manager Arne Slot searching for answers.

‎Liverpool’s defensive instability has overshadowed their attacking brilliance, and with tough fixtures against Aston Villa and Manchester City looming before the international break, the pressure on Slot is intensifying.

‎Having begun the season as defending champions, Liverpool now find themselves adrift in the title race, their form dipping at the worst possible time.

‎Manchester City Struggle for Spark

‎Elsewhere, Manchester City’s reliance on Erling Haaland’s goals is beginning to show cracks. A 1-0 loss to Aston Villa exposed a worrying lack of creativity and depth in attack no other City player has scored more than once in the league this season.

‎Pep Guardiola’s men remain within striking distance of the top four, but their aura of dominance looks diminished. For a team accustomed to sharing goals across the pitch, the overdependence on Haaland is becoming a real concern.

‎Manchester United on the Rise Under Amorim

‎After nearly a year without consecutive Premier League wins, Manchester United manager Rúben Amorim finally appears to have found the right balance. United’s 4-2 win over Brighton, their first home victory over the Seagulls in four years, showed both attacking flair and defensive intensity.

‎All three of United’s big-money attacking signings, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Šeško, played starring roles. Mbeumo netted twice, Cunha grabbed his first United goal, and Šeško provided an assist, hinting at the chemistry Amorim has been striving to build.

‎“They have a lot of talent,” Amorim said post-match.

‎“But I really like the way they defeat. We can have all the talent in the world, but if we don’t fight, in this league, you have no chance.”

‎United’s lack of European football may now be working in their favor, offering crucial rest and preparation time. A top-four finish and a return to the Champions League are fast becoming a realistic target.

‎Promoted Sides Defying the Odds

‎This season’s newly-promoted teams are rewriting the script.

‎Sunderland, Leeds United, and Burnley all picked up crucial wins to continue their impressive starts, each defying expectations of a relegation battle.

‎Sunderland’s 2-1 comeback victory at Chelsea marked their best start to a top-flight campaign by a promoted side in 17 years.

‎Leeds defeated West Ham 2-1, while Burnley sealed a dramatic 3-2 win at Wolves leaving Gary O’Neil’s side still without a league victory.