Why Arsenal deserve better than questions over their bottle | OneFootball

Gunners have stumbled in title race in recent weeks but blips are allowed

A blip? A wobble? Or, most serious of all, a bottle?

If you believe that Mikel Arteta’s side wilt when it matters most, then recent results are harbingers of the latest Arsenal apocalypse.

Regardless, the title race has opened up.

Victory over Nottingham Forest would have earned Arsenal a nine-point advantage at the top. Barely 10 days later, that gap was reduced to only four points.

Arsenal’s lead at the top of the Premier League has been cut to four points

Getty Images

Arteta was on top form at a press conference this week, determined to “bring the temperature down” after defeat to Manchester United.

A team meeting on Monday renewed his belief.

“It was so encouraging and beautiful because what came out of that is very simple,” Arteta said. “We have earned the right to be in a great position in four competitions. We’re going to live and play with enjoyment, courage, and with the conviction that we’re going to win it.”

When one reporter suggested the title race brings significant pressure, Arteta interjected: “Excitement.” As the question continued, the Arsenal boss added: “Joy.”

Arteta is right, perspective is needed.

The Gunners are in a position they would have dreamed of in the summer.

Trips to Old Trafford, Anfield, St James’ Park, Villa Park and Stamford Bridge have been ticked off.

The results of their rivals also suggest the points tally required for the title may be lower than in previous seasons.

Arsenal’s experiences have left them believing pretty much perfection is required in the run-in.

Yet this City side do not look capable of putting together a 10-match winning run.

Arsenal’s margin for error could be greater than fans fear.

Emirates Stadium is becoming a more anxious environment by the week

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

The issue with Arsenal’s current form is that underlying concerns have been exacerbated as familiar themes catch up with them.

Arsenal’s forward players are out of form. Bukayo Saka has not scored in 13 matches. Noni Madueke does not have a goal in the Premier League, Leandro Trossard has one goal in 11 games, and Gabriel Martinelli has scored once in the league all season. Viktor Gyokeres’s last non-penalty league goal was on November 1.

Gyokeres and Trossard are Arsenal’s top scorers in the league with just five goals.

If the Gunners benefit from another own goal, the pair will have unusual company in those particular standings.

Defensive standards have also slipped.

The 3-0 win over Slavia Prague in November made it eight clean sheets in a row, equalling a club record.

Since then Arsenal have kept five clean sheets in 19 matches, with individual mistakes mounting.

Of the 23 league games this season, 17 have either been level or had a one-goal lead either way heading into stoppage-time.

The mental strain on Arsenal’s players has been huge and, on the whole, they have coped well.

Consistently tight matches have not helped the mood at the Emirates Stadium, which is becoming a more anxious environment by the week.

Loud groans greet clumsy touches and wayward passes.

Arsenal might actually be more comfortable on the road as the run-in intensifies.

But even after a stumbling run, they are still four points clear.

Fans with their head in their hands risk letting the season turn sour.

History pushes the narrative towards what Arsenal have to lose.

This side, though, deserve the focus to be on what there is to win. Blips are allowed.