Arsenal at the top of the Premier League, but the fear of an imminent collapse paralyses the Gunners’ supporters
Despite leading the Premier League table with a comfortable nine-point advantage over Manchester City, Arsenal fans live in a mix of hope and dread as the 2025-26 season nears its end. The ghost of past disappointments looms over the Emirates, where fans have repeatedly watched promises of glory crumble at crucial moments.
Mikel Arteta, the manager who promised to return the Gunners to the top of English football, faces the challenge of breaking a 23-year drought without winning the national title. However, late defeats and failures have turned hope into distrust, and the London team is beginning to be labelled as “bottle jobs” — a cruel expression that reflects the fear of yet another collapse.
The origin of the “bottle jobs” stigma and Arsenal’s curse
Arsenal bears the weight of a reputation built over the last decade: that of failing when it matters most. Competing against heavyweights like Manchester City and Liverpool, the Gunners have repeatedly dominated the title race for weeks, only to crumble at the decisive moments of the season.
Since the last Premier League triumph in the historic “Invincibles” season of 2002-03, Arsenal has not lifted the trophy again. To make matters worse, the London team has never won a European title, which amplifies the narrative of struggles to translate potential into glory.
The nightmare of the last three campaigns that toppled Arsenal
In the 2024-25 season, Arsenal finished second again, for the third consecutive year, but the race was never really within their grasp, with Liverpool dominating from start to finish. A dark spell between October and November put the team behind, forcing them into a constant chase. Despite securing second place in December, the team lost momentum in the final games, achieving only five wins in the last 13 matches, including two home defeats against West Ham and Bournemouth.
In 2023-24, the title fight was a three-way battle between Manchester City, Arsenal, and Liverpool. Arsenal led the table until the 32nd matchday, tied on points with Liverpool and ahead on goal difference, while City was one point behind. However, a devastating 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa in April, with goals in the last ten minutes, ultimately knocked the Gunners out of the race, allowing City to overtake them and win the title.
The most dramatic collapse occurred in 2022-23, when Arsenal led the league with a five-point advantage over City in February. But the overwhelming response from Pep Guardiola’s side, with 12 wins and a draw in 13 games, left Arsenal with no margin for error. Three consecutive draws against Liverpool, West Ham, and Southampton opened the door for City to overtake Arteta’s team, culminating in a 4-1 defeat that practically sealed the Gunners’ fate.
Arsenal’s decisive schedule in the final stretch of the 2025-26 season
With nine games remaining, Arsenal enters the final phase with a five-point lead over Manchester City, who still have a game in hand. This situation keeps the pressure high, as any slip could be fatal for the Gunners’ title ambitions.
Mikel Arteta, whose leadership ability is now more than ever under scrutiny, will have to find solutions to the ghosts of the past and ensure his team does not succumb to the pressure once again.
Kyle Bonn, a football journalist with over a decade of analysing tactics and betting, highlights the importance of this moment for Arsenal: “The recent history does not favour the Gunners. The team needs to show courage and resilience to avoid another collapse that could shatter their hopes of winning the Premier League.”
The truth is, in a season where the leadership seems solid, Arsenal faces a trial by fire. Will Arteta finally lead the Gunners to the title, or will the fans have to brace themselves for another historic disappointment? The answer is about to be written in the upcoming games.
