Arsenal is dangerously heading towards a historic collapse in the Premier League, with the ghosts of lost titles haunting Mikel Arteta’s team. Following an alarming series of negative results across all competitions — defeat in the League Cup final, elimination by second-division Southampton in the FA Cup, and a heavy loss to Bournemouth in the league — the Gunners see their nine-point lead slipping through their fingers, especially with an imminent trip to face second-placed Manchester City.
Despite the points advantage, the pressure is mounting. Pep Guardiola’s side, with two games in hand, has the experience and quality needed to capitalize on any slip-up from Arsenal and reclaim the top spot. This situation recalls some of the biggest disappointments in Premier League history, where teams that seemed secure at the top of the table ended up losing the title in dramatic fashion.
Arsenal is no stranger to these situations. In 2007-08, under the management of Arsène Wenger, the team seemed unstoppable, having lost only one game in the first 26 matches. The five-point lead appeared solid until the fateful encounter at St. Andrew’s against Birmingham City. Even with an extra player from the early minutes, the Gunners drew 2-2, conceding the equalizer in injury time. From then on, the team collapsed, dropping points in six of the following seven games and handing the title to another rival.
Currently, Arsenal in the 2022-23 season has also shown signs of weakness. After leading the table almost since August, the team dropped crucial points in matches against Liverpool, West Ham, and Southampton, all in April. The heavy defeat at the Etihad, 4-1, followed by losses to Brighton and Nottingham Forest, raised accusations of “bottle job” — a term that implies a lack of courage and failure in decisive moments. In January, the Gunners had a five-point lead and a game in hand over City, who at that time were an unstoppable machine, winning the treble.
But the Premier League has always been an unpredictable competition. In its inaugural season, the champions Leeds United did not win a single away game and barely survived, while teams like Aston Villa and Norwich City had leadership phases that did not lead anywhere. Interestingly, the signing of Eric Cantona by Manchester United changed the course of the 1992-93 season, with Sir Alex Ferguson leading the Red Devils to the title after an impressive comeback.
Speaking of Manchester United, the 2011-12 team also came close to disaster. After a humiliating 6-1 defeat to City, the Red Devils responded with an impressive series of victories that gave them an eight-point lead. However, an unexpected loss to Wigan and a series of draws opened the door for City, who ultimately clinched the title in that epic season.
Another recent example is Liverpool in 2018-19. Despite an almost perfect performance — finishing the season with 97 points — the Reds ended up losing the title to City, who amassed 98 points, a record. The defeat in January against the champions was the turning point, and even with an impressive recovery, draws in crucial matches proved costly.
Looking back, Manchester United in 1997-98 and Newcastle United in 1995-96 are classic examples of teams that lost significant advantages. United once had an 11-point lead, but saw Arsenal, with three games in hand, claw it back and win the title. Meanwhile, Newcastle, with a 12-point lead, crumbled after a series of defeats in March and lost the title race.
The lesson is clear: in English football, a comfortable lead can evaporate in an instant. Arteta’s Arsenal is now being tested to the limit. The visit to Manchester City could be the decisive moment of the season. Can the Gunners withstand the pressure, or are they doomed to join the sad list of the biggest leadership collapses in Premier League? The answer, as always, will be found on the pitch, where glory and disappointment are decided in 90 minutes.
This article first appeared on Apito Final.
Discover more from Apito Final
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
