Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk spots Arsenal problem with Mikel Arteta’s side ‘vulnerable’ in one area

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For all the focus on Arsenal’s greatest strength before toSunday’s clash of the Premier League titans with Liverpool, Virgil van Dijk feels that there was also a weakness waiting to be exploited.

And exploit it Arne Slot’s visitors certainly did.

Arsenal may have topped the Premier League charts last season for set-piece goals – they are also leading the way this term with four – but to describe Mikel Arteta’s challengers as the masters of a dead-ball situation would be to ignore a rather crucial point.

Only Southampton and Wolves, with seven apiece, have been breached more often outside of open play.

Because, while the header Mikel Merino scored on the stroke of half-time at the Emirates Stadium may have been the fourth netted by an Arsenal player from a set-piece in 2024/25, the London giants have conceded as many as they have scored.

And as Trent Alexander-Arnold’s near post delivery was flicked on by Luis Diaz, captain Virgil van Dijk has the easiest task in the world.

Van Dijk he headed home from almost point-blank range after giving Thomas Partey the slip inside the six-yard area, even if Gary Neville was largely pretty impressed with Arsenal’s number five out of position at right-back.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk spots Arsenal weakness

It was a game which left the Van Dijk with somewhat mixed feelings.

Delight at his goal, of course, but frustration that he could not use that 6ft 5ins frame to clear Declan Rice’s delivery as Arsenal took the lead for the second time in a pulsating 2-2 draw.

“If I jump a little bit higher, I [can] flick it away!,” Van Dijk sighs, reacting to Merino’s first Gunners goal in his post-match conversation with the media. “But I think they were also vulnerable at set-pieces, and we showed [that we can be dangerous from dead balls] as well.

“[Set-pieces] is a big part of football, and they are doing a very good job with it. Fair play.

“[But] we analysed that there are some weaknesses we can exploit. And this was one of them.”

Mo Salah’s late equaliser means Arsenal have now fallen five points behind leaders Manchester City and four adrift of Slot’s Liverpool in what is shaping up to be the rarest of things in the Pep Guardiola era.

A bonafide, three-horse title race.

Van Dijk says the title race is still young as Manchester City set the pace

Van Dijk points out that there is still more than half of the field remaining, even if his Liverpool side have exploded out of the blocks under a new trainer.

“I think someone said to me last year, Man City lost here [at the Emirates] and they won the league,” Van Dijk adds, referring to the Gabriel Martinelli goal which put Arsenal joint-top 12 months earlier.

“We’re in October. I’ve read so many things that [claimed] ‘Arsenal are out of the title race if they lose’. We’re in the business where you can be on top one week and then not.

“We are in October and let’s see what it brings us at the end of the season. Enjoy the ride.”

Both Arsenal and Liverpool face difficult tests next time out, however.

While Manchester City travel to Bournemouth – who delivered Arsenal’s only defeat thus far – The Gunners face Newcastle United at St James’ Park as Liverpool host Brighton and Hove Albion.

Meanwhile, Manchester United legend Roy Keane is hedging his bets on Liverpool rather than Arsenal when picking Man CIty’s greatest challengers.

“I want to say Liverpool,” Keane says.

“I gave Liverpool loads of praise last year and they ran out of steam with five or six games to go, so there’s lots of challenges ahead for them. Maybe the calmness of the players will help them in the long-run. But I’ve been wrong before.

“I would say at this moment Liverpool over Arsenal.”