[BBC]
Whereas it’s too early within the season to have reached peak ‘squeaky bum time’, many Arsenal supporters are little doubt actually or figuratively shifting restlessly of their seats.
Sunday’s was their third successive Premier League match with no win, and what appeared a commanding seven-point lead earlier than the weekend has been diminished to a frailer-looking 4. Such is the fickle nature of contemporary soccer.
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However what does historical past inform us about Arsenal’s title possibilities from what remains to be an enviable place?
[BBC]
The Gunners have been Premier League leaders at this stage of a season on three earlier events however solely went on to raise the title as soon as – the Invincibles season of 2003-04, once they completed unbeaten.
That they had a two-point lead after 23 matches then. That was additionally the case in 2022-23, with Mikel Arteta’s facet extending their result in eight factors after 29 video games, having performed another than , solely to capitulate in the course of the run-in.
Arsenal’s largest benefit after 23 fixtures was a five-point lead in 2002-03. The time period ‘squeaky bum time’ originated later that season when then supervisor Sir Alex Ferguson was searching for to heap strain on the Gunners. The north London facet duly stumbled, finally ending 5 factors adrift as United regained the title.
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The Premier League leaders have been a minimum of 4 factors clear at this stage of the season on 20 earlier events – all however 4 of these went on to turn into champions.
famously blew a 12-point lead in 1995-96, whereas Manchester United relinquished a five-point benefit over Arsenal in 1997-98 earlier than the roles have been reversed 5 years later. held a four-point lead in 2019 and have been unbeaten over their remaining 15 video games, successful 11, however have been nonetheless edged out by a relentless Manchester Metropolis.
If we rewind per week to when Arsenal’s lead was seven factors, no facet this century has blown a comparable benefit after 22 matches. In Premier League historical past, solely Newcastle in 1996 and Manchester United in 1998 – with respective leads of 9 and 7 factors – have did not win the title from a place much like Arsenal’s earlier than final weekend.