Arsenal’s hard work over the last eight months faces being undone in the Premier League title race – but all is not lost.
After Manchester City convincingly defeated Luton Town on Saturday to showcase their near-perfect end of season form that proved so pivotal last season, both the Gunners and Liverpool slipped up.
Crystal Palace added to a miserable week for Jurgen Klopp’s side with a shock 1-0 defeat at Anfield before Arsenal fell victims to Unai Emery’s tight-knitted Aston Villa a few hours later. After 32 games, it’s advantage to City.
There are still six games left for all three teams with each facing at least one tough fixture. Unfortunately for Mikel Arteta’s side, they face the toughest schedule of the three with Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United all to come.
Plenty of twists and turns will play out between now and the end of the season though. Despite failing to return to the top of the table, there are a number of reasons why confidence should remain relatively high at the Emirates Stadium.
Unlike before the Villa defeat, it is no longer in the hands of Arteta’s side. Reliance is more on what others can do for them and hope that City slip-up – something they have shown no signs of doing.
The first factor is that Pep Guardiola’s men are still to face tough away trips to Brighton, Nottingham Forest, Fulham and Tottenham. Another bonus is that many of their opposition have plenty to play for – Brighton, Wolves, Spurs and West Ham are all competing for European football with Forest fighting for their lives at the bottom of the table.
Furthermore, next week presents Arsenal with the chance to gain a psychological advantage of replacing their rivals at the top of the table with three points at Wolves. City’s FA Cup exploits mean they won’t play in the league until next Thursday when they travel to the AMEX Stadium to face Brighton.
In fact, Arsenal can produce a huge state of intent in their next two games. Before Guardiola’s men next kick a ball in the Premier League, the Gunners are in action twice, meaning they could be four points clear come late April.
That would pile the pressure back on the champions, who also face a more congested schedule thanks to that FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea this weekend. It could get busier should they progress to the two-legged Champions League semi-finals, though Arsenal would of course find themselves in the same position should they see off Bayern Munich this week.
Whatever will be, will be. Calm and collected individual demeanours are required now with no further slip-ups allowed in north London. Only time will tell if Arsenal will suffer a repeat of last season.
