The strain within the title race was all the time going to come back for Arsenal, and possibly after the 1-1 draw at Brentford that is the place it turns up a notch for Mikel Arteta’s facet.
It have to be identified that they’re in one of the best place of all golf equipment chasing the title, 4 factors clear on the high of the Premier League and with simply three losses all season. However with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester Metropolis the facet chasing them, that hole doesn’t really feel enormous.
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A part of that’s right down to the truth that if Arsenal had crushed the Bees they might have been six factors clear and had the prospect to increase that to 9 factors with a win over Wolves subsequent Wednesday, with the sport happening earlier than Manchester Metropolis are subsequent in motion.
One other issue is that Manchester Metropolis have produced unimaginable runs of type to chase down titles in earlier years and the Gunners have completed second for 3 successive seasons.
With 12 video games to go, historical past doesn’t favour Arsenal with their end-of-season type.
Previously 5 seasons, solely on one event have Arsenal gained 10 of their remaining 12 Premier League matches in a marketing campaign.
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In these seasons, the Gunners have by no means gained extra factors of their remaining 12 video games than the staff that went on to win the title.
‘We’ve got to dam out the skin noise’
With the noise round Arsenal and their historical past beneath Arteta when attempting to win the title, the Gunners boss was requested if he wants to make sure that his facet don’t panic and stay centered on their activity.
“That is what we now have to do,” he stated. “I imply we’re going to be prepared and making ready to win each single match and the one factor that we are able to do is concentrate on that and lift the degrees collectively and individually to be higher than the opponent each week.
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“It is simply the issues that we now have to do, that is crucial factor.”
Earlier than Manchester Metropolis’s dramatic win towards Liverpool on Sunday, it regarded as if Arsenal can be 9 factors clear.
However after Erling Haaland’s late penalty to safe the three factors and their win towards Fulham on Wednesday, the hole was diminished to a few factors and the strain was put again on to the Gunners.
When requested if enjoying after Metropolis is bringing a brand new strain to his staff, Arteta stated: “I do not assume so, I believe we performed nicely after them a couple of occasions this season and we now have gained video games.”
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Of the 17 video games by which Arsenal have scored first within the Premier League this season, the draw at Brentford was simply the second time they’ve did not win, together with their loss to Manchester United in January.
Midfielder Declan Rice couldn’t have put it higher: “It is a rollercoaster of a season.
“You possibly can’t be naive to assume that is going to be simple. We’re enjoying towards one of the best groups week in, week out. We’ve got to maintain pushing and believing in ourselves, controlling the controllables.
“We’ve got to dam out the skin noise. We’ve got completed that actually nicely. Persons are going to speak up the title race and Arsenal however we now have a very calm group.”
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Key gamers lacking at essential time
The Gunners got here into this match with out centre-back William Saliba, who missed out by sickness.
Saliba is a key a part of this Arsenal facet and his partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes is a giant motive why they’ve conceded simply 18 objectives within the league this season.
Because the begin of 2022-23, Arsenal have a 68.6% win fee and common 2.3 factors per recreation with Saliba enjoying within the Premier League (W83 D24 L14), in comparison with a 42.1% win fee and 1.6 factors per recreation on common with out him (W8 D7 L4).
The Gunners are additionally with out Kai Havertz, who has picked up a muscle damage after solely simply coming back from a long-term knee concern final month.
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In addition to these two modifications, Arteta introduced Viktor Gyokeres and Piero Hincapie into the beginning XI at Brentford.
However the Gunners have solely gained two of the previous seven Premier League video games by which they’ve made 4 or extra modifications to their beginning XI from the earlier match (D4 L1).
‘You’d moderately be in Arsenal’s place’
Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown stated on TNT Sports activities: “That is what folks had been shouting at me as I used to be coming off the pitch, ‘Man Metropolis are coming to get you’, however on the finish of the day Arsenal are 4 factors clear.
“You get knocked down, you rise up once more. Let’s examine who the fighters are and let’s examine who’s going to win this. They might have put down a giant marker in the event that they gained the match, nevertheless it by no means regarded like that was going to be the case.”
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In two of their three second-placed finishes lately, Arsenal have completed behind Manchester Metropolis, which is why the discuss this title race carries so many emotional scars for supporters.
“What Man Metropolis have gotten is the know-how and the current historical past behind them,” Peter Crouch added on TNT.
“That may result in nervous tensions across the stadium, actually across the again finish of the season.
“Having somebody like Man Metropolis and Pep behind you, you’re all the time going to be trying over your shoulder. However you’ll a lot moderately be in Arsenal’s place.”
Crouch believes Arsenal won’t ever have a greater likelihood to win the title.
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“Man Metropolis aren’t the Man Metropolis of previous, Liverpool aren’t, Manchester United aren’t what they’ve been, Chelsea the identical,” he stated. “There’s a lack of high quality within the high areas [of the league]. The bar has been set excessive prior to now years.
“Now could be an actual alternative for Arsenal. If they do not get over the road, there must be extra questions answered.”