Fans of Arsenal have flocked to Twitter on Sunday evening, to highlight the importance of one key area of the showdown between Manchester City and Liverpool.

The most high-profile fixture of the Premier League campaign to date is of course currently playing out at the Etihad.

The matchup in question sees Pep Guardiola’s table-topping City playing host to Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, trailing the reigning champions at the English top-flight’s summit by just a solitary point.

And to say that the matchup has since lived up to its billing across the opening hour+ in Manchester would be something of an understatement.

An absolutely pulsating affair currently sees the title contenders locked at two goals apiece, owing to goals on the part of all of Kevin De Bruyne, Diogo Jota, Gabriel Jesus and Sadio Mane.

‘I’m gonna cry’

And, as alluded to above, amid the chaotic action in Manchester to date, one Premier League fanbase have been keen to highlight the ever-increasing importance of one particular position on the pitch.

The supporters in question? Arsenal’s. The position? Full-back.

Sunday’s Etihad showdown sees what many would no doubt argue are four of the finest full-backs in world football – in the form of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson, Joao Cancelo and Kyle Walker – going head-to-head.

And all four, in turn, have already gone on to make a telling contribution to the action.

Alexander-Arnold and Cancelo, for their part, have chipped in with superb assists, whilst Scottish international Robertson too played a crucial role in Liverpool levelling things up early in the first-half.

The oft-underappreciated Walker, meanwhile, continues to excel on both sides of the ball, amid a true showcase of the growing importance of elite full-backs as part of the modern game.

Why Arsenal’s supporters are so invested in the Man City vs Liverpool full-back battle

LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 16: Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Liverpool at Emirates Stadium on March 16, 2022 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)

So, why the sudden interest of the Arsenal faithful?

Yesterday afternoon, the Gunners of course saw their Premier League top-four hopes dealt a considerable blow, owing to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of out-of-form Brighton & Hove Albion.

Amid ongoing injury problems at the Emirates, the club’s right-back spot, on the day, was filled by Cedric Soares, whilst Granit Xhaka was forced to fill in on the left on the back of Nuno Tavares’ horror show at Crystal Palace on Monday night.

In turn, Arsenal’s fans have been keen to make use of today’s table-topping clash as evidence of just how far off the required level their side’s own full-back options remain, with just some of the social media highlights showcased below:

 

Revealed: The fee Arsenal are willing to sell Nicolas Pepe for this summer

Arsenal ready to reignite pursuit of Juventus star in summer