“Arsenal on the brink of collapse: Will they lose the title?”

Is Arsenal on the brink of disaster? After leading the Premier League with a nine-point advantage just six matches from the end, the Gunners’ dream of winning the title for the first time in 22 years is being called into question by a surprising defeat and mounting pressure that threatens to undermine their lead.

On Saturday, Arsenal suffered a harsh blow by losing at home to Bournemouth 2-1, a result that reopened the door for Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City to return to the title race. This defeat was not just a stumble; it was a “punch in the stomach,” in the words of manager Mikel Arteta, who described the moment as a “painful day” for the team.

Former England and Newcastle forward Alan Shearer, who analyzed the game on Match of the Day, was emphatic: “They can ruin everything playing like this. They were poor in every department. Lacking energy, they looked very nervous. The whole stadium seemed nervous. With such a lack of recent victories, I can understand that anxiety, but they need to overcome it or they will lose the title.”

The defeat comes at a time when direct rivals, Manchester City, failed to capitalize on missteps, having drawn consecutively, while Arsenal was riding high on a streak of four consecutive victories. This sudden setback exposes the vulnerabilities of Arteta’s team, which, despite a comfortable lead, appears susceptible to a historic collapse.

Historically, no one in the Premier League has lost a title while being nine points clear after 32 games. The last team to squander a significant lead was Manchester United in 2011-12, when they had an eight-point advantage and saw City clinch the trophy. Arsenal, however, has a reputation for letting substantial leads slip: last season, they were at the top at the same point and ultimately finished second.

With injuries affecting key players such as Bukayo Saka, captain Martin Ødegaard, and Jurrien Timber, and the use of less experienced young players like Myles Lewis-Skelly in the left-back position, Arsenal displayed a tired and fragmented team. The prolonged absence of several starters and the intensity of the competitions they are involved in seem to be taking a heavy toll.

The next decisive match will be against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, in a clash that could practically decide the champion. If the Citizens also defeat Chelsea this Sunday and then eliminate Arsenal, the gap could shrink to just three points, with City still having games in hand to play. The pressure will intensify, and Arsenal’s margin for error decreases with each passing match.

Despite the defeat, the numbers continue to offer some hope: according to analyses from Opta, Arsenal still has a 93.62% probability of winning the title, based on thousands of simulations of the remaining matches. However, Arteta’s team must react immediately, demonstrating resilience and the ability to handle pressure, something that has been a challenge thus far.

This is a critical moment for Arsenal. The dream of ending a wait of over two decades for the Premier League title rests in the hands of the players and coaching staff. The brutal question lingering is: will this “gut punch” be the awakening the team needs to secure the trophy, or the harbinger of a historic collapse? Next Saturday could answer this question and forever mark the Gunners’ season.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.