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Last year, when Liverpool stormed away with the league, there were plenty of Arsenal fans who felt that the gulf between the two teams was far too big to make up within a single transfer window. In the summer, Liverpool spent big, bringing in Isak and Wirtz for over £100 million each. 

Many analysts and fans thought this would be more than enough for them to make it consecutive league titles. In fact, at the start of the season, despite many Arsenal fans bearing some cautious optimism, they were also taken aback by some of the recruits Liverpool had brought in. 

Listening To The Betting Companies

Going into the new season, the gambling companies had Arsenal at a pretty distant second favourite behind Liverpool. It wasn’t just bookies in the UK, either. International markets and other prominent betting countries where the EPL is popular, with high viewership and betting volumes, such as Australia, also saw Liverpool start the season as overwhelming favourites. 

It’s no secret how popular sports are in the betting world. They’ve grown into every facet of the industry. Sports-related slots games have become one of the fastest-growing niches in the market, as has the sustained growth of cryptocurrency casino gambling platforms. 

The combination of these two markets has led brands like Ignition Australia to carve out a market for themselves in the growing world of cryptocurrency casinos. It’s not just casino gaming companies that have embraced this change; we have seen it in sports-related slot games across the market, as well as in other conventional betting markets. 

While the Australian market contributes to the broader market that helps shape these odds, betting platforms are often a good indicator of how a season can shape up, which is what makes it even more surprising that Liverpool is so far off the pace and so early on.

The Weight Of A Big Price Tag

The 24/7 nature of social media has meant that players are subject to far more scrutiny and spotlight than they were in the days before the internet. As social media becomes the main place we go to for our news, gaming, and to seek out promotions and marketing, as you can see in the link below, it has also become a headache for players, agents, and teams trying to quell the rumour mills that take over during the transfer window. 

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For those of us who thrive on constant news and football gossip, this is a dream scenario, but for players who have to shoulder the weight and expectations of an enormous price tag, these additional pressures can get to them and cause problems on the pitch.

Now, players being worth £100 million isn’t a new thing in football; there are a growing number of names in and around this list. In fact, the Gunners have recently been linked with Forest midfield star Elliot Anderson, who is valued in the nine-figure range. 

However, many fans believe that the weight of having two enormous signings on the same team, one of whom has never played in England, is causing the balance and dynamics at Anfield to be slightly off. They’ve picked up many losses already this season, including a shock home defeat to Manchester United and a drubbing at the hands of Man City.

Strength & Depth

The current league table is an excellent sight for Arsenal fans. Already eight points clear of Liverpool before Christmas and four points ahead of Man City, there’s a cautious optimism buzzing about the Emirates that this could be the season Arteta finally ends the drought.

Many believed that plugging the gap upfront was the key. Having brought in Viktor Gyokeres, who has hit the ground running, and strengthened with other attacking talents like Eze, it does feel like Arsenal now have the strength and depth in every position to challenge for both domestic and European honours. 

Arsenal’s main eleven is the strongest in the league, and if they can keep the core of this fit and away from the injury table, then there’s every chance it could be a very special season. 

Can The Gunners Finally Capitalize?

Hopefully, if Arsenal can avoid serious injuries and suspensions to their key players this year, then they will go far in the league and the Champions League. City will most likely be their closest rivals, given Erling Haaland’s form and the way Man City recently dispatched Liverpool. 

We know that there can be many twists and turns throughout a season. Over the last few years, these sorts of twists have not worked in Arsenal’s favour, but hopefully the early form is a reason to be optimistic. If Liverpool chalks up another couple of defeats between now and the end of the year, then it’d be safe to say that their title defense is all but done and dusted. 

If Arsenal can hold off City, there is every chance this could finally be the year Arteta gets us over the finish line. Again, there are so many variables to contend with here that it can be hard to make any realistic prediction until after Christmas, but so far Arsenal look like the team to catch. 

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