Arsenal have been looking for every vital sign that this is the season when they will finally make the leap from pretenders to Premier League champions – but the indications are already ominous.
Mikel Arteta’s side showed plenty of guts in defensively reduced circumstances in the 2-2 draw with Liverpool at Emirates Stadium, but there will be deep frustration at getting one point rather than three.
Arsenal had victory in their sights as they led through Bukayo Saka and Mikel Merino’s goals with only nine minutes left, only to fall victim to a sweeping Liverpool counter attack and Mohamed Salah’s equaliser.