Some weeks, Arsenal look unstoppable. A few of them, they give the impression of being susceptible. However after one other unconvincing show at Brentford, there was a standard theme about Arsenal not too long ago
For the reason that flip of the 12 months, Arsenal have struggled to reply to a Manchester Metropolis outcome within the title race. This was the fourth time that Mikel Arteta’s facet 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 12 months, they failed to essentially lengthen their lead over Pep Guardiola’s facet 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 similar time, when Arsenal have gone first, they’ve appeared like a special crew. 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 troublesome venue and misplaced their star ahead Bukayo Saka through the warm-up – and it was straightforward road forward of Metropolis’s recreation at Spurs.
Arsenal discovered a approach 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 impression on his crew. “I do not suppose so, I believe we performed as properly after them a number of occasions this season, and we now have gained the video games,” he mentioned.
He has a degree. 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 shall 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 crucial chaotic groups within the Premier League in Brentford.
Brentford’s Keane Lewis-Potter scores in opposition to Arsenal
“We lacked sure issues in opposition to them, it’s important to defend these conditions, even higher forestall them,” he mentioned.
“You need to give them no probability or simply hope that one thing dangerous occurs and we did not handle that properly sufficient for us all through the sport.”
However might 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 cross behind for a Brentford corner- then put in a number of clumsy fouls, which practically noticed him despatched off for 2 yellow playing cards.
Within the build-up to Igor Thiago’s massive first-half probability, which required a giant save from David Raya, the Arsenal goalkeeper gave the ball away cheaply with a howler of a throw.
David Raya made an horror of throw out to Mathias Jensen which brought on rapid stress on Arsenal’s objective, with a header from Brentford striker Igor Thiago however the Spaniard was capable of redeem himself with magnificent save.
It was not like 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 massive 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 must kind out their current subject in ‘taking part in after Metropolis’ – and rapidly.
Whereas they face Wolves on Wednesday – their subsequent Premier League recreation which Metropolis can not reply to – Guardiola’s facet 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.
Per week on Sunday they face a Tottenham facet 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 facet confirmed they’ll create a nervy spectacle on the Emirates.
Within the area 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.
