Arsenal young guns show more resolve to confirm title ambitions

Liverpool not only took them back to the top of the Premier League but showed Mikel Arteta's side have added backbone and self-belief to their thrilling brand of football, making them title contenders at last. Arsenal have sometimes been one of the Premier League's most exciting teams but have been characterised for their mental fragility and their tendency to crumble against top opponents. Not any more.

In a pulsating match against Juergen Klopp's side, who pushed Manchester City all the way in last season's title race, they recovered twice from surrendering the lead to come out on top. It was only the second time Arsenal have beaten Liverpool in the Premier League in the last seven years but the performance confirmed the team's new-found resolve. For the fourth consecutive home game in the league, they have either fallen behind or conceded an equaliser but still gone on to win, beating Fulham, Aston Villa and north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur before their latest scalp.

"I saw a team I really identify with, the personality they show in difficult moments," said Arteta. Arsenal have been renowned for blooding young players since Arsene Wenger became manager in 1996 although a lack of success since their last league title in 2004 has often been put down to not having enough senior players. But Arteta's team are also characterised by their youthful nature.

The average age of their starting line-up on Sunday was 24, with goalscorers Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka each being 21. The difference between this side and the under-achieving teams towards the end of Wenger's reign is their experience. Martinelli made his debut in 2019 while Saka has been a regular since the 2019-20 campaign.