Bradley Barcola rejected Arsenal's advances in favour of signing for Liverpool in the summer

Bradley Barcola would perhaps have been a visiting player to Anfield on Sunday, had Mikel Arteta had his way. The Liverpool summer signing had been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal throughout the year, prior to his £123m switch from Paris Saint-Germain.

Liverpool ultimately waited all summer long to get their desired attacking target, making the France international the second most expensive player in the club’s history when finally securing his signature at the end of August.

Following the departure of Mohamed Salah, the Reds had their marquee recruit to bolster Andoni Iraola’s front-line.

But it was a different story at the Emirates, despite Arsenal’s status as Premier League champions and Champions League finalists.

The Gunners were linked with a number of big-name forwards throughout the summer as they looked to enhance their own options, but were ultimately left wanting when the transfer window closed.

Barcola was high up on their wanted list, only for the Frenchman to favour Liverpool after the Reds’ in-depth groundwork, while Arsenal were not prepared to match their offer regardless.

They will have found his decision strange, no doubt, considering their position of strength as reigning champions in contrast to Liverpool’s own struggles under former head coach Arne Slot as they only just secured Champions League qualification.

Vinicius Junior was another leading target too, only to eventually spurn their interest in order to sign a new contract with Real Madrid.

Julian Alvarez also knocked back their advances as he tried and failed to hold out for a move to Barcelona from Atletico Madrid, while Morgan Rogers ultimately decided to sign for Chelsea over the Gunners.

Consequently, despite the sales of Gabriel Martinelli to Al-Hilal, Leandro Trossard to Besiktas and Gabriel Jesus to Barcelona, Christos Tzolis was the only new attacking addition to Arteta’s ranks in the summer following his £34m switch after a prolific two seasons with Belgian Pro League side Club Brugge.

As a result, the Gunners, despite coming into Sunday’s trip to Anfield sitting second in the Premier League table and boasting the meanest defence, remain a little shy in attack with 13 goals to their name.

Arteta has had to rotate his hand in an attempt to find a more prolific formula, with injuries also not aiding his cause.

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Tzolis started the season as first-choice on the left, but a hamstring injury suffered during the last international break has seen both Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke trialled in the position.

While the Greek could make his return to the matchday squad against the Reds, a thigh injury suffered by Bukayo Saka against Bayern Munich has further depleted Arsenal’s options.

Madueke had swapped to the right-flank to cover for his fellow England international in last weekend’s victory over Everton, but he is now a doubt to face Liverpool also.

And with teenager Max Dowman suspended, and both Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres struggling for goals down the middle, Arsenal’s options are looking a little thin on the ground.

Discounting the definitely ruled out Saka, their attacking players boast just five goals between them in the Premier League and Champions League so far this season.

While Liverpool have actually scored fewer goals in the English top-flight this season (11), with Iraola bemoaning that his side are yet to truly find their shooting boots in the Premier League, their attack still looks healthier - despite having suffered injuries of their own.

Alexander Isak, Victor Munoz and Cody Gakpo - who have all missed games through injury - are responsible for nine of the Reds’ Premier League goals, while Barcola, Florian Wirtz and Lewis Koumas offer a further five in Europe.

And while Barcola might be yet to score in the Premier League, he has assisted for Isak in each of Liverpool’s last two Premier League games against Brentford and Brighton & Hove Albion respectively as he continues to get his feet under the table at Anfield.

The Reds might have lost Salah on a free transfer in the summer and fallen short in their efforts to sign a natural successor on the right flank, but they still enhanced their attacking options overall with the signings of Barcola and Munoz.

In contrast, Arsenal weakened their own hand with Tzolis the only incoming recruit despite losing three of their Premier League-winning attackers in Martinelli, Trossard and Jesus.

Arteta will hope that Tzolis and Madueke are both passed fit to face Liverpool, at least, but the Gunners’ front-line is lacking a certain je ne sais quoi regardless.

In contrast, the Reds’ patience paid off when it came to signing Barcola at Arsenal’s expense. The Gunners would be forgiven for having been left confused by his choice, and for now wondering what might have been had the Frenchman opted to become their missing part of the puzzle.

But while Liverpool’s summer was far from straight-forward also, having missed out on Yan Diomande and failed to sign either Yankuna Minteh or Ismaila Sarr, the Reds’ faith in their existing options has at least already been rewarded.

Boasting their marquee arrival and set to unleash an attack featuring three £100m+ forwards against Arsenal, Liverpool and their £123m summer signing will now be eager to prove he was worth every penny against the very side whose advances he spurned.

Arteta’s men will go top of the table with at least a draw at Anfield. But should the Reds emerge victorious and send out a statement to the rest of the division, whisper it quietly but Iraola’s side could well find themselves considered Premier League title contenders - and ahead of schedule too, no less.

Given the Gunners’ own attacking plight, where they would already sit top of the table if they had returned more in front of goal, Barcola now has the opportunity to rub salt in Arsenal's wounds by justifying his transfer decision and showing the North Londoners exactly what they're missing.