As Darwin Nunez struck his two late goals for Liverpool against Brentford, a mere nine miles away a sense of agony washed over the Emirates Stadium. If the Reds weren't already locked in a Premier League title scrap, they are now.

Subject of plenty of transfer talk throughout the open window and scrutiny for his lack of contributions in front of goal prior to Saturday, Nunez bounced back in style. To hand the Reds victory, he first converted Trent Alexander-Arnold's low cross, then minutes later stole Harvey Elliott's pass from the feet of Mohamed Salah to smash home.

For Arne Slot, the overriding feeling was relief. He told the waiting media after witnessing the Uruguayan's injury-heroics that the result was deserving of the outcome, further backed by a lion's share of possession, 37 attempts on goal to 11 in Liverpool's favour, and an xG of 3.40.

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But those of an Arsenal persuasion checking their phones with glee seeing a 0-0 scoreline as they made their way into the Emirates Stadium in North London for an evening clash with Aston Villa quickly had their moods dampened.

Reporting from the stadium, BBC Radio 5 Live commentator John Murray said: "The groans and gasps on the concourse here at the Emirates as the Darwin Nunez goals went in. That simply means Arsenal need to follow up their very good win against Tottenham with another one."

While speaking on Sky Sports, Gary Neville said: "The crowd are up for it. Travelling up in the lift to this top tier to get to the gantry, those two Liverpool goals in the final minutes of that game at Brentford really did hurt Arsenal fans."

There arrives a point in the Premier League season where clubs are accepted as in the frame for the title race or not. More often than not, former players on punditry duty judge this as March after the international break.

But with the Reds reaching the 50-point threshold after 21 matches, seven ahead of the Gunners prior to their kick-off, they are already being accepted as the team that will go on to lift the trophy in May.

Testament to this was Brentford manager Thomas Frank's post-match assessment on Saturday, as he said: "We just played City, Arsenal and now Liverpool in a short amount of time. For me, they're a level above the two teams. They're complete. It's the best team in the Premier League and the world. They're huge favourites to win it."

Before the season began, Arsenal fans presumed Man City would be their main threat, so the Reds have trumped that theory early doors. Now they openly air their grievances as Liverpool are successful, well and truly signifying the title battle is on.