Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes hit at ...

Some weeks, Arsenal look unstoppable. A few of them, they give the impression of being weak. However after one other unconvincing show at Brentford, there was a standard theme about Arsenal lately

For the reason that flip of the yr, Arsenal have struggled to reply to a Manchester Metropolis end result within the title race. This was the fourth time that Mikel Arteta’s aspect have performed after Metropolis within the gameweek and dropped factors.

This week, Man Metropolis swept apart Fulham however Arsenal stumbled in opposition to their very own west London opponents the next day. They misplaced to Manchester United the day after Man Metropolis beat Wolves.

Earlier within the calendar yr, they failed to essentially prolong their lead over Pep Guardiola’s aspect at Nottingham Forest a couple of hours after the Manchester derby Metropolis misplaced – and in opposition to Liverpool, after Metropolis dropped factors at Brighton.

On the similar time, when Arsenal have gone first, they’ve appeared like a special staff. Final weekend, there have been no nerves in opposition to Sunderland, which preceded Metropolis’s dramatic recreation at Liverpool.

They went to Elland Highway – one other troublesome venue and misplaced their star ahead Bukayo Saka throughout the warm-up – and it was simple avenue forward of Metropolis’s recreation at Spurs.

Arsenal discovered a approach at Bournemouth on the Saturday earlier than Metropolis hosted Chelsea on Tremendous Sunday. And even after they performed Aston Villa at dwelling, they picked up the assertion end result they lacked at Brentford. As soon as once more, that got here a day earlier than Metropolis have been in motion.

Arteta refutes the declare that ‘going second’ has an affect on his staff. “I do not assume so, I believe we performed as nicely after them a couple of instances this season, and now we have gained the video games,” he stated.

He has a degree. Arsenal’s slender December wins over Brighton and Everton got here hours after Metropolis picked up victories.

However they have been in 2025, that is 2026. The end line is that little bit nearer, the opposite cup competitions are beginning to ramp up in depth. Harder questions shall be requested and the nervousness of getting over the road will rise.

Arteta as an alternative stated Arsenal’s newest dropped factors have been linked to the shortage of defensive solidity in opposition to one of the crucial chaotic groups within the Premier League in Brentford.

“We lacked sure issues in opposition to them, it’s a must to defend these conditions, even higher stop them,” he stated.

“You wish to give them no likelihood or simply hope that one thing dangerous occurs and we did not handle that nicely sufficient for us all through the sport.”

However may that be linked to the stress of taking part in after Metropolis? There have been some moments within the Brentford recreation the place Arsenal didn’t look themselves.

Within the opening three minutes, Gabriel put a wayward move behind for a Brentford corner- then put in a number of clumsy fouls, which almost noticed him despatched off for 2 yellow playing cards.

Within the build-up to Igor Thiago’s huge first-half likelihood, which required a giant save from David Raya, the Arsenal goalkeeper gave the ball away cheaply with a howler of a throw.

It was in contrast to him – and had an analogous really feel to that Martin Zubimendi error which led to Manchester United’s equaliser on the Emirates again in January.

Gabriel Martinelli has now missed huge probabilities in opposition to Forest and Brentford – when he has proven he delivers in these high-pressure areas, most notably in opposition to Man Metropolis again in September.

Title races do humorous issues to gamers and it feeds to the concept that – regardless of Arsenal’s sensible squad depth – Metropolis’s expertise of getting over the road is the trump card they’ve over Arsenal.

Whether or not the scheduling issues or not, Arsenal should kind out their latest concern in ‘taking part in after Metropolis’ – and rapidly.

Whereas they face Wolves on Wednesday – their subsequent Premier League recreation which Metropolis can not reply to – Guardiola’s aspect play first within the two gameweeks after that.

These video games see Arsenal face two extra London derbies that may ask related inquiries to these they confronted at Brentford.

Per week on Sunday they face a Tottenham aspect that will have a ‘new-manager bounce’ following Thomas Frank’s exit, whereas every week later Chelsea come to the Emirates – and Liam Rosenior’s aspect confirmed they’ll create a nervy spectacle on the Emirates.

Within the house of 5 days, Arsenal have gone from 9 factors clear at one stage to a four-point hole and Metropolis smelling blood. This title race is nicely and really on.