Premier League: If the Gunners Can Slot Arne’s Reds…

Arsenal vs Liverpool

…then Arsenal’s dream of becoming 2026 Premier League champions will be one huge step closer to becoming a reality.

It’s first versus fourth in the title race, a meeting of the 2025 Premier League champions and the current hot favourites to take that crown; and a win for Mikel Arteta’s Gunners would bring them ever closer to their holy grail. The three times runners up, from 2023 to 2025, are sick of being second best and, after a near perfect post Christmas campaign, Arsenal have stretched their lead at the top to a very handy six points.

Arteta’s men were the Christmas number one, but only by two points as Manchester City gathered some threatening momentum. But, while Arsenal kept their nerve, ending Aston Villa’s long winning run with a 4-1 beating and then edging a five goal thriller away to Bournemouth; the Sky Blues faltered, drawing 0-0 away to Sunderland and then conceding a late, late equaliser in a 1-1 draw with manager-less Chelsea.

So Arsenal will have the upper hand when they meet Arne Slot’s Reds on Thursday, though I expect their lead to be halved by then, assuming Manchester City beat Brighton and Hove Albion on Wednesday night. Then Liverpool will be no pushover, having recovered from a disastrous spell during September and October; the Reds are unbeaten in nine games in all competitions.

But Liverpool are out of the title race, 14 points behind Arsenal, and the latest Premier League 2025 betting odds predict they will finish precisely where they sit now, in fourth. The Merseysiders would love nothing more than to show that they can still beat the top dogs; and that motivation makes this clash all the more compelling.

 

Talking Points

Gabriel return makes Arsenal complete  

This is the best squad at the Emirates, arguably since they last won the Premier League with the Invincibles team of 2003/2004 and, just as they did way back then, Arsenal have an outstanding centre back pairing. Back in 2003 it was Sol Campbell and Martin Keown doing battle with the best strikers in the league and now, Gabriel and William Saliba are the two at the heart of Mikel Arteta’s back line.

A hamstring injury to Brazil star Gabriel weakened the Gunners towards the end of 2025, allowing Manchester City to close the gap but the big centre back has returned and is as dominant as ever at both ends of the pitch, scoring in both Arsenal’s post Christmas victories. If Gabriel can stay fit from now until May, I think that will go a long way towards bringing the Premier League title back to the Emirates after a 22 year wait.          

 

Wirtz has found his feet

There was a huge amount of pressure on wide man Florian Wirtz after his record transfer from Bayer Leverkusen to Liverpool in the summer. The English top flight is as tough a league as any on the planet, and many players have taken a season or more to get used to the pace. And so it seemed with Wirtz until recently, as he struggled to make the Premier League 2025 highlights his £116m price tag demanded.

But after scoring for fun in the Bundesliga Wirtz finally broke his Premier League duck in a nervy 2-1 win over bottom club Wolverhampton Wanderers on 27^th December. Liverpool’s trip to Fulham on Sunday was never going to be a walk in the park but Wirtz bagged again to equalise Harry Wilson’s opener. It seems the 22 year old is starting to make his mark and that can only be good news for the Reds.    

 

History

This is one of the best rivalries in European football and the last 74 encounters have seen the Reds on top by 27 wins to 20 while there have been 27 draws. At the Emirates Arsenal have won 13, drawn 13 and lost nine. When the two sides met at Anfield in August Liverpool won 1-0, but both games last season ended in a 2-2 draw.  

Both teams are in superb form, the Gunners with five wins and a draw from the last six games while Liverpool have four victories and two draws over that time.   

 

Betting Tip

Arsenal are strong favourites, at a SBOTOP price of 1.60 to win this mega-match with the draw at 3.75, and Liverpool pretty long at 5.25. But I don’t think the Gunners will find it easy against the resurgent champions. I believe both teams will go for the win and I expect to see goals, with Over 3.50 priced at 2.87; but I’m sticking my neck out and going for yet another 2-2 draw.  

   

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