Anfield was where Arsenal’s title charge began to fade last season, but this time they left believing they can go all the way.
The centre-back pairing of Gabriel and William Saliba is a big reason for that and they were heroic as Arsenal claimed the point that ensures they will be top of the Premier League on Christmas Day.
Watching the pair together it was easy to see why Arsenal’s bid to win the title last season collapsed when Saliba got injured and missed the final 11 games.
Here at the home of the Premier League’s best centre-back for the past five years, Virgil van Dijk, the 22-year-old served up a performance that showed he is the Dutchman’s heir.
Amid the hostile Anfield atmosphere, Saliba oozed composure and no more so was that evident than deep into injury-time. Tidying up a long ball to Mohamed Salah, the centre-back skipped past the Egyptian, played a one-two with Gabriel and then left Trent Alexander-Arnold for dead with a slick shimmy.
Saliba rightfully picked up the man-of-the-match award, but equally impressive alongside him was Gabriel.
The Brazilian was out of the team at the start of the season, but he has been excellent ever since getting his place back.
Gabriel often gets overlooked given Saliba’s talent, but he is pulling his weight and it is hard to argue against there being a better centre-back pairing in the League right now.
“They are unbelievable together,” said Ben White. “They are so strong and powerful. They make it easier for everyone around them.
“They just don’t do too much wrong, do they? They are so consistent every game. No one is dominating them speed wise or strength wise. It’s hard for strikers to come up against and find anything positive to come out of the game.”
If Arsenal are to go all the way this season and end their 20-year wait for a League title, then Gabriel and Saliba will be a key reason why.
Saturday’s game was a frantic affair, played at a blistering pace, and Arsenal’s centre-backs enabled them to hold firm. In years gone by, they would have been overrun - but this time the Gunners ground out a point that felt like a win.
“I think when you come here it’s so, so tough and to come away with a point is probably a positive,” said White.
“It (the pace of the game) felt quick. Any time the ball is out it is chucked in or kicked in straight away. It’s just constant sprinting the whole game and that’s why it is so difficult to come here and to get anything from the game.”
Arteta says Gabriel and Saliba clicked from day one and they enjoy a good relationship off the pitch.
Speaking a mixture of English, French and Portuguese, the pair have bonded and it is reflecting in their performances on the pitch.
Their styles complement each other - on and off the pitch. On it, Gabriel is an aggressive, front-foot defender; Saliba relies on composure and pace, dropping off and sweeping up when required. Off the pitch, they are different characters, with Gabriel seen as more goofy and loud, compared to the quiet, cool Saliba.
The one fear for Arsenal is - like last season - what would happen if one of them got injured? On the basis of this performance at Anfield, it doesn’t bear thinking about.
