Player Mikel Arteta sold for just £17m gives Arsenal a big title boost after ‘tackle of the season’

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Mikel Arteta has one former player to thank for giving Arsenal a boost in the Premier League title race.

Arsenal’s injury situation could impact the title race but, that won’t stop Arteta’s squad from giving their all to fight for the prize until May.

Liverpool have been leading the pack for a long time, which hasn’t changed despite recent blips against Everton and Aston Villa.

On match day 26 of the Premier League season, Liverpool drew 2-2 with Unai Emery’s side at Villa Park, giving Arsenal the chance to limit the gap between first and second to just five points.

• READ MORE: Arsenal and Liverpool’s next six fixtures compared as one club has a clear advantage in title race

Emi Martinez hands Arsenal crucial Premier League title boost

Emery’s record against Liverpool did not give Arsenal fans much hope ahead of the mid-week fixture, but the former boss delivered to some degree.

Amid a questionable patch of form, Villa dug deep to earn a result against the Reds, seeing the hosts earn a significant point that could impact the title race.

Arsenal supporters appreciate Emery’s players for denying Liverpool a comeback after going 2-1 down, but the Spaniard isn’t the only former Gunner to earn high praise from those in N5.

When the scoreline was level at 2-2 approaching the 75th minute, Darwin Nunez was bursting through on goal before Emi Martinez reacted instantly to the danger. 

The former Arsenal goalkeeper sprinted from his goal to accomplish a perfect slide tackle, described as the ‘tackle of the season’ by journalist Jacob Tanswell, seeing the ball cleared and the threat disappear.

Martinez has done exceptionally well since leaving Arsenal, with his heroics against Liverpool arguably one of his greatest accolades, at least in the eyes of those in North London. 

Arteta sold Martinez for just £17m to Villa in 2020 and now, the Argentine might have handed his previous boss a helping hand in the race for the Premier League title. 

Liverpool achieve unwanted Premier League feat for the first time since 2020 

Though Villa did not win the game, there were signs of encouragement there for Arsenal to build on, as Arne Slot’s squad were far from their best.

The same could be said about Liverpool against both Wolves and Everton in previous fixtures, giving the Gunners a glimmer of hope with regard to the title race.

The tide could be changing, as a remarkable statistic provided by Opta informed, as for the first time since 2020, Liverpool scored first and went into the interval behind in the Premier League.

Ironically, the last time such happened to the Reds was against Arsenal in 2020, suggesting an area of weakness in Slot’s title charge, which will keep Arteta on red alert.