Arsenal have unique Premier League title race opportunity Mikel Arteta must seize

Arsenal have returned to form at just the right time.

Mikel Arteta's side needed a response after a run of four Premier League games without a win and they've got it. A comfortable 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest was followed by a comprehensive 5-1 victory over Sporting in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

And the Gunners rise has come at the perfect time for those hoping to see a competitive title race this season. Manchester City's dramatic drop off in November has seen them fall eight points behind league leaders Liverpool.

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Many will argue that defeat at Anfield on Sunday would all but end City's title defence before the new year, a concept which was barely comprehendible in August. Falling 11 points behind a team who have lost just once all season feels fatal, particularly without the injured Rodri to underpin a leaky defence.

It's why there is a genuine chance that Liverpool could run away with the title if Arsenal cannot keep pace. Arteta's team are already nine points behind Arne Slot's side but Sunday's game will provide a unique opportunity.

Arsenal will go into Saturday's clash at West Ham knowing that they can make ground on at least one title rival and possibly two if there's a draw on Merseyside. The Gunners will move above City if they beat Julen Lopetegui's team and end the weekend ahead of them if Pep Guardiola's struggling side fail to win at Liverpool.

Conversely, Sunday's huge clash at Anfield represents one of the few fixtures which Liverpool could realistically drop points in this season. City maybe out of form but they still have the ability beat any team on their day.

Guardiola's team are also in the unique position of being underdogs this weekend for the first time perhaps since the Catalan arrived at the Etihad in 2016. The pressure is off in some ways with most observers fully expecting a Liverpool win.

Whatever happens on Sunday, Arsenal must do their job in a fixture which now looks slightly more tricky after West Ham's win at Newcastle on Monday. Not many expected the Hammers to earn such a comfortable win against an inform team.

It's a warning to the Gunners that they may not have things all their own way this weekend. Securing all three points no matter how they come will be so crucial to their title chances.