Haaland’s victory over Holding demonstrated the gap between the title rivals

William Saliba’s absence has been Arsenal’s lone constant in their erratic recent performance.

Despite all the talk of pressure, nervousness, and the ‘B’ word (which rhymes with Aristotle), the Gunners have been most negatively impacted by the absence of their commanding center-back.

With a back ailment, Saliba has missed five games and won’t play against Manchester City on Wednesday in the title match. Arsenal have given up nine goals without him and, as you may have heard, have drawn their last three games.

There are many other considerations involved in a title race, but ultimately, do Arsenal really allow two-goal leads at Liverpool and West Ham slide away while handing a two-goal lead to last-place Southampton with Saliba nearby? With the Frenchman in the lineup, their defensive track record suggests otherwise.

Not the best time, therefore, to confront Erling Haaland. It’s also a bad moment to be Saliba’s assistant.

This top-of-the-table matchup highlights the gap between the two title contenders in many ways. Although Manchester City continues to be far ahead on most other fronts, Arsenal may hold a five-point advantage in the standings. Nothing better exemplifies this than Haaland v. Rob Holding.

Some viewed Haaland, who has more league goals than any other Arsenal player with 32, as an unnecessary luxury for City, making Julian Alvarez, the World Cup-winning striker, the luxury back-up to the luxury.

The backup for Saliba is in the red corner. In his seven seasons in north London, Holding has only made 96 league appearances, but he has never truly persuaded anyone that he belongs at the top level.

There is no getting around the fact that the 27-year-old was given a rough afternoon by Michail Antonio in the draw with West Ham and appeared to be at least partially responsible for two of Southampton’s goals last time out. It would be inaccurate and egregiously unfair to pin all the blame for Arsenal’s problems on one man, however.

Mikel Arteta’s persistence in using the £50 million Ben White, who was originally signed as a center-back, at right-back is evidence of his unwavering faith in the former Bolton youngster.

Arteta suggested on Tuesday that changing the structure, the approach, or the individuals might be necessary to address City’s attacking prowess. Maybe White will be propelled into a now-unfamiliar role while Holding is removed from the firing line.

Whatever the strategy and whatever the result, the fact that Arsenal is in this position — with a single injury, although a critical one — threatens to derail their incredible campaign, demonstrates just how large of a lead City still has over their championship challengers.