Premier League reaction: Arsenal narrow gap on Liverpool after dramatic weekend

Unlucky 13 for Arsenal?

Noel Sliney

BBC Sport

History suggests that Arsenal have their work cut out to win the title despite moving within two points of leaders Liverpool following yesterday’s late winner.

Only two of the previous 36 sides with 13 points after six Premier League games have gone on to become champions: Manchester United in 2006-07 and Manchester City in 2021-22.

It’s not great reading for Liverpool fans either, though. There have been 12 previous instances of teams reaching 15 points at this stage – and just two eventually won the title: Liverpool last season and Manchester United back in 1995-96.

Arsenal actually had more points at this stage in each of the past three seasons – only to finish second every time. For Arsenal fans seeking good omens, the only previous time the Gunners were runners-up three times in a row – from 1998-99 to 2000-01 – they went on win the league title the season after that.

Liverpool's next five league games

For Liverpool, they face Chelsea next at Stamford Bridge - a ground they haven't won at in the Premier League since 2020. The two Manchester clubs are also in the mix of the next five games, with Man United at home and Man City away.

Saturday, 4 October

Chelsea (A)

Sunday, 19 October

Manchester United (H)

Saturday, 25 October

Brentford (A)

Saturday, 1 November

Aston Villa (H)

Sunday, 9 November

Manchester City (A)

'Never ideal when you concede in extra time of extra time'

Crystal Palace 2-1 Liverpool

Late winners have been Liverpool's speciality this season but the the tables were turned on the Reds at Selhurst Park in a rare 3pm kick-off.

Federico Chiesa's 87th-minute equaliser looked to have rescued a point for the Premier League champions but failure to deal with a long throw by Jefferson Lerma proved costly for Arne Slot's side. Should Milos Kerkez have hoofed the ball away with his right foot instead of putting it out with his left? Discuss.

"It is never ideal when you concede in extra time of extra time, but there was a substitute so half a minute extra was fair. I have to check when they scored exactly, but we have to defend the throw-in better," Slot told Sky Sports.

"We take learnings from all the games we have played and we can take even more from a game like this."

Big calls for VAR

Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal

The video assistant referee was involved early on in the game between Newcastle and Arsenal when Viktor Gyokeres appeared to be taken down by Nick Pope with the score at 0-0.

Referee Jarred Gillett pointed to the penalty spot but changed his mind after consulting his pitchside monitor. We got to hear Gillet's voice over the mic as he told St James' Park Pope had "played the ball and there was no foul".

Newcastle had their own late appeal for a spot-kick waved away by Gillett, which was confirmed by VAR, when the ball hit the outstretched arm of Gabriel the penalty area following Anthony Elanga's strike. The Premier League Match Centre wrote on X the ball had deemed to have deflected off the Brazilian's shin and onto his arm.

A new Premier League rule, introduced in 2024, states that not every touch of a player's hand or arm with the ball is an offence.

Former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin said on BBC Radio 5 Live: "My first thought was yes, it's handball. I have seen it again and in a normal world, I am giving a penalty there."

'Wow, what a feeling!'

Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal

It's fair to say Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was delighted with the result at St James' Park. And who wouldn't be - late winners are great.

"To win in the manner that we have done it, wow what a feeling! Football is about emotion and going through things and today we had a beautiful one at the end of the match," the Spaniard told Match of the Day.

"The players that came on, the impact players they made such a difference. Martin [Odegaard] and [Gabriel] Martinelli with the intensity. Mikel [Merino] is a massive goal threat coming from midfield and he wins you the game."

Six games in, but 'huge' results?

Because I'm a professional idiot, I should've put this entry in first before the get involved. Just pretend I did...

"That feels absolutely huge. We are in September, it shouldn't do!"

The words of Gary Neville after Gabriel scored Arsenal's winner to take them two points behind Liverpool.

You kind of know what he means, don't you? Six games in and these wins and defeats feel significant already. But is it ridiculous to even be thinking about the title race at this stage of the season?

Just how big will this past weekend be when we're looking back at the end of the season?

Get involved: Is it far too early to discuss the title race?

Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say

Go on then, let's open the floor up to you.

Is it 'absolutely huge' for Arsenal and their title credentials this season, to win in that manner at Newcastle?

Is the nature of the Premier League these days that - even six games in - such weekends have a significant bearing on the title race?

Or is it crazy to be talking about a title race so early in the season? Maybe Man City will have a say in the matter? Maybe this just a one-off blip for a Liverpool side who hadn't dropped a point before Saturday?

Give us your thoughts - click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page.

How it stands

Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal

The clocks haven't even gone back yet, so that signals there's still plenty of football still to played in this title race.

Liverpool are top of the pile on 15 points, two points clear of Arsenal in second and three above third-placed Crystal Palace. Tottenham, Sunderland and Bournemouth come next, all level on 11 points.

Down at the bottom, Wolves, West Ham and Burnley are stuck in the relegation spots but the Hammers do have the chance to pull themselves out if they can beat Everton away tonight in the 8pm game.

'Now you're Gunner believe us' - Reaction to St James' Park comeback

Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal

Arsenal have closed the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool to two points with a snatch and grab win at Newcastle on Sunday.

We might only be six games into the season, but the notion that the Reds will run away with the league again has been hindered.

Monday's newspaper back pages feature the Gunners comeback at St James' Park and "how it proves their title fight" as a collective team.

But should Arsenal have had a penalty after striker Viktor Gyokeres was brought down by Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope?

"Pope came out and made himself big - albeit with a little extension of the foot - and the ball hits him," said former Premier League goalkeeper David James on the BBC Radio 5 Live Football Daily podcast. "He wasn't trying to tackle Gyokeres, he was trying to block him and there is a fundamental difference there.

"If Pope goes to tackle him and makes contact then there would be a shout but he has gone for a block.

"It was the perfect decision from the referee.

"He is allowed to try and stop the ball from going in and I don't think there was any danger in there. If anything Gyokeres made the contact with Pope."

Click here to read article