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 typical theme about Arsenal lately
Because the flip of the yr, Arsenal have struggled to reply to a Manchester Metropolis outcome 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 lengthen their lead over Pep Guardiola’s aspect at Nottingham Forest a number of hours after the Manchester derby Metropolis misplaced – and in opposition to Liverpool, after Metropolis dropped factors at Brighton.
On the identical time, when Arsenal have gone first, they’ve regarded like a distinct workforce. Final weekend, there have been no nerves in opposition to Sunderland, which preceded Metropolis’s dramatic recreation at Liverpool.
They went to Elland Street – one other tough venue and misplaced their star ahead Bukayo Saka in the course of the warm-up – and it was simple road forward of Metropolis’s recreation at Spurs.
Arsenal discovered a method 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 outcome 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 influence on his workforce. “I don’t think so, I think we played as well after them a few times this season, and we have won the games,” he mentioned.
He has some extent. 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. Tougher questions will probably be requested and the anxiousness of getting over the road will rise.
Arteta as a substitute mentioned Arsenal’s newest dropped factors have been linked to the shortage of defensive solidity in opposition to one of the chaotic groups within the Premier League in Brentford.
Brentford’s Keane Lewis-Potter scores in opposition to Arsenal
“We lacked certain things against them, you have to defend those situations, even better prevent them,” he mentioned.
“You want to give them no chance or just hope that something bad happens and we didn’t manage that well enough for us throughout the game.”
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 go 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 large first-half probability, which required an enormous save from David Raya, the Arsenal goalkeeper gave the ball away cheaply with a howler of a throw.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
David Raya made an horror of throw out to Mathias Jensen which prompted instant stress on Arsenal’s objective, with a header from Brentford striker Igor Thiago however the Spaniard was in a position to redeem himself with magnificent save.
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 large possibilities 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 – 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 type 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’t 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 comparable inquiries to these they confronted at Brentford.
Every week on Sunday they face a Tottenham aspect which will have a ‘new-manager bounce’ following Thomas Frank’s exit, whereas per 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 properly and really on.
