Why a Liverpool win over Man City suits Arsenal best this weekend

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Arsenal supporters face an unusual dilemma this afternoon as Liverpool host Manchester City at Anfield, with the result carrying real implications for the early Premier League table.

Arsenal got their own weekend business done on Saturday, grinding out a 2-1 win over Leeds United at the Emirates after an uncomfortable afternoon. That victory took Arteta's side to 15 points from six matches. Manchester City sit level on 15 points, but from just five games, having won all five of their opening league fixtures.

The maths behind the Anfield hopes

Should City beat Liverpool this afternoon, they would move three points clear of Arsenal at the top of the pile. A draw at Anfield would still see City edge one point ahead of the Gunners.

A Liverpool win, however, would leave City level with Arsenal on 15 points, while lifting Liverpool themselves to 12. In the context of this weekend alone, that result looks the most favourable for Arsenal, even if it draws Liverpool nearer to the division's early pacesetters.

There's also no guarantee City drop points at all. Pep Guardiola's side have won five straight league games to open the campaign and will travel to Merseyside full of confidence. Liverpool, for their part, are unlikely to roll over on home turf, where visiting sides have rarely found life easy.

As Just Arsenal noted, Dan Smith predicted a 2-1 Liverpool win in his weekend Premier League predictions, having also correctly called Arsenal's 2-1 victory over Leeds.

Arsenal's own performance still the priority

Whatever unfolds at Anfield, Saturday's display against Leeds was a reminder that Arteta has issues of his own to sort out. Arsenal showed the resilience to come from behind, but a difficult start against a side battling at the other end of the table is not something the Gunners can expect to shrug off every week.

With the vast majority of the season still ahead, today's result at Anfield won't settle anything in the title race. It could, though, offer a small psychological lift depending on how things unfold between two of Arsenal's closest challengers.

Arsenal's focus will quickly turn back to their own form as the fixtures continue to pile up, with the table only likely to take real shape over the coming months.