Arsenal claimed a 2-2 draw with Liverpool at the Emirates on Sunday evening, picking up a valuable point but injuries to Gabriel and Jurrien Timber.

Bukayo Saka returned to start the game, having missed the trip to Bournemouth, and looked his electric self, scoring the game’s opening goal after turning Andy Robertson inside out and rifling home.

Arsenal have been fortunate that Saka has been incredibly durable in his career, missing just four games since the start of the 2021/22 season.

But each time he misses a game we get a reminder of just how important he is.

He isn’t always flashy, and sometimes gets overlooked as a result, but there are few better in world football on the wing and his impact on football matches and his output is relentless.

Liverpool have enjoyed watching Mohammed Salah’s inevitability for years on end, unfortunately again to score the late equaliser, and Saka has that same air of inevitability about him.

Mikel Merino and Declan Rice formed a double pivot in the Gunners midfield and were excellent.

Merino is still learning the system and Mikel Arteta’s demands, but against Liverpool he did the basics brilliantly - and claimed his first goal for the club.

Meanwhile, Rice was outstanding in anchoring the midfield, single-handedly shutting down Liverpool’s midfield.

The Gunners performed admirably, only to fall victim to Liverpool’s stars Virgin Van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Salah.

When Liverpool have world-class players like that, they will hurt any team. But one issue facing Arsenal was how weak the closing backline was.

Having gone into the season with what looked like too many defenders, it was Thomas Partey, Ben White, Jakub Kiwior and Myles Lewis Skelly who ended the game on Sunday.

Injuries are part of the game, but Arsenal aren’t going to win a title if they can’t get their main players on the pitch.

After a midweek Carabao Cup trip to Preston, Arsenal travel to St James’ Park for a lunchtime kick-off against Newcastle on Saturday (12.30pm).

The Magpies sit in 12th place after an up-and-down start to the campaign and are winless in their last five.

There will not be many better times to play Newcastle, so injuries or not, Arsenal need to take full advantage.