At 4.48pm on Saturday, Arsenal were hoping to catch Liverpool. At the end of the day, Arne Slot's men had one hand on the trophy. Was this the decisive day in the title race?
As the clock ticked towards stoppage time in West London, with Liverpool being held 0-0 by Brentford, Arsenal fans taking their seats at The Emirates would have sensed an opportunity.
Can they close the gap to just two points?
But then Darwin Nunez did things with Darwin Nunez.
As it turned out, Liverpool were just teasing.
Nunez's late double gave the club a huge three points given the circumstances and the chance for Arsenal to potentially make a serious move in the title race evaporated. By the time the whistle blew at the end of the frantic 2-2 draw against Aston Villa, the home fans had their heads in their hands.
The gap is now six points and Liverpool still have a game in hand.
According to the bookmakers, Slot's men now have a 77 percent chance of winning the title – it's the highest percentage probability any team has achieved this season.
“The swing is huge,” says Sky Sports' Paul Merson.
“I would be shocked if Liverpool didn't win the title from here. For me it was too easy from Arsenal, too lax.
“If you want to win the Premier League you have to show up every day, every week. You have to be prepared to tackle things.
“I've supported Arsenal for the last two years and thought you know how unlucky they've been – they've pushed one of the best teams we've ever seen right up to the penultimate game and all the way to the last game.
“Now I look at them and think: did they understand? When push comes to shove like today?”
Sky Sports' Gary Neville said in his co-commentary: “Arsenal have taken a 2-0 lead here. There are some pretty dejected faces on the pitch and around this stadium.
“It's a big day in the title race and the momentum continues towards Liverpool.”
Arsenal had complete control of the match against Aston Villa with a 2-0 lead, but two quick goals from Youri Tielemans and Ollie Watkins from crosses that exposed Arsenal's weakness without William Saliba turned the match on its head.
Speaking about both goals, Merson said: “They're schoolboy mistakes. It's not like teams open them up and you think 'oh my god'.
“I don't care what division you're in, these two goals can be stopped if you do your job.
“All you ask as a manager is for the players to get on the pitch and do their job.
“And today certain players let Mikel Arteta down and I don't think it's because the team is shallow because today we saw two big mistakes. Mikel Merino let Tielemans run away from him and honestly I can't believe what I just saw Partey with Thomas.” [leaving Watkins free to score the equaliser].”
Arteta: Liverpool's substitutes won it for them, but we are falling very short
Mikel Arteta said Arsenal are “very short” and hinted the club must take action in the January transfer window after the 2-2 draw with Villa.
Asked if it felt like a pivotal moment in the title race because of Liverpool's victory, he said: “There are moments. Clearly they have succeeded.
“They made the subs, and the subs made the impact, and they managed to change the game.
“And on our side it was the opposite, even though there was a danger, after conceding the two goals very close, that because I knew what the team was like, we could go down because we were physically exhausted.
“The team found another gear to go again and just put Aston Villa there in the box, and they go and go again, trying to find the goal that we couldn't score in the end.”
Despite his side's fatigue, Arteta only used one substitute in on-loan Raheem Sterling, who failed to make an impact.
Asked whether the circumstances underlined the need for reinforcements in January, he said: “Not the result. If you look at the performance, I don't know how many teams are playing at this level in the league, but if you look at the bench 'you're probably saying, I think we're very short.'
Asked if he was concerned about Saliba's injury, he added: “Yes, definitely. Especially considering the numbers we have in the squad and looking at our bench. Very concerned.”
He added: “In attack and defense the level we are playing is so high. We were so good, but something is missing, that line is so thin.
“Today we cannot allow the goals we have scored. That line is so thin, we have been punished before and we cannot do that.”
Analysis: If Salah doesn't get you, the bank will
Sky Sports' Oli Yew:
Nunez and Liverpool eventually came to terms, and Slot's ability to empty Liverpool's bench with new attacking options could be crucial in their bid to win a first title in five years.
Liverpool, even without the injured Diogo Jota, scored a whopping 37 shots at Brentford – a record for an away side in the Premier League – but it was their ability to keep up that pressure with fresh legs that ultimately got them over the line . .
It was Nunez who came to the rescue this time, but Harvey Elliott, who has not had as many minutes as he would have liked this season, also played a key role from the bench with an assist for the second.
If Mo Salah, Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo don't get you, Darwin Nunez, Federico Chiesa and Harvey Elliott will! And with other sides in the league struggling with injuries and depleted squads, that depth could be the crucial factor in Liverpool's bid to bring the title back to Anfield.
Frank: Liverpool is a level higher
Brentford boss Thomas Frank compares Liverpool favorably with Arsenal and Manchester City:
“I think in a short space of time we've played against City and Arsenal and now against Liverpool. For me, that's it [Liverpool] are one level above the two teams. They are complete. Their work ethic and the way they leave their mark are good indicators.
“They are so good all over the pitch. What a threat for the future. These are really good. They are the best team in the Premier League and the world. They are big favorites to win.” [the title].”
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