Have Arsenal's challengers done enough?

Arsenal have started the new Premier League season with two wins as the transfer window closes, looking in ominous shape to retain the crown they won for the first time in 22 years last season.

Have their main rivals done enough to prevent Mikel Arteta's side winning a second successive title?

And what are the other big issues as the Premier League's transfer business was concluded until January?

Liverpool's main task this summer after appointing Andoni Iraola to replace sacked Arne Slot, was to somehow compensate for what they would miss without Mohamed Salah after he left Anfield at the end of last season.

Bradley Barcola was the prime target and eventually signed from Paris Saint-Germain for £123m. He possesses lightning pace, creativity and goals, but he is not a like-for-like replacement for Salah, preferring to operate on the left.

Victor Munoz, a member of Spain's World Cup-winning squad, is another wide man who has already shown what he can deliver with a spectacular equaliser in the 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest.

Rather than simply replace Salah, Liverpool's strategy has been to find a way to get goals from the wide positions and elsewhere rather that focus on one single player to replace the Egyptian.

All very well – but Liverpool's opening draws against Newcastle United and Forest showed a fault which holed them below the waterline last season has not been addressed.

The lack of a natural number "6" has left a midfield imbalance that leaves them horribly vulnerable to counter-attacks. Teams can still run straight through Liverpool, but Iraola showed no inclination to make a signing in that position.

Can Liverpool cure that tendency to be exposed? This could be the flaw that stops them making amends for their dismal title defence last season.