(Football news) Ask any Arsenal fan before the season began and they would have taken a second place finish in the Premier League this season. The Gunners finished 5th last year, failing to qualify for the Champions League once again and a top 4 finish would have looked like ‘progress’ for Mikel Arteta’s side. Fast forward to April and Arsenal have a very realistic chance of winning the Premier League title in what has been an incredible season for the North London side. However, a recent ‘wobble’ has raised questions if this inexperienced Arsenal side has the maturity and experience to go on and lift the Premier League title after two decades.
It was the second consecutive weekend that the Gunners let a 2-0 lead slip as David Moyes’ West Ham managed to salvage a draw just like Liverpool did the week before. Despite Arsenal remaining four points clear, City have a game in hand and the two sides have to face each other at the Etihad Stadium on April 26th.
More importantly, City have the experience of getting results when it matters and have proved it by winning their last six games and hitting form when results are absolutely crucial. The title race is expected to go down the wire, which in itself is an accomplishment for Arsenal and shows just how much the team have progressed under Arteta, but finishing second would be another trophy less season for the Gunners.
It’s important to remember that Arsenal still have to face Newcastle away, City away, Chelsea at home and Brighton at home which is a difficult run of fixtures to say the least. With the pressure piling up and the inexperience of this Arsenal side, it was inevitable that they would falter and that’s exactly what has happened. Despite their consistency and dominance this season, Arsenal are definitely the underdogs and it’s almost expected that they will finish second, given Manchester City’s quality and experience. However, despite the ‘progress’, one can’t help but feel that another trophy less season is just not good enough for the Gunners.
Arsenal are out of all cup competitions and have no distractions for the Premier League title. The Gunners have shown a lack of composure, particularly from winning positions over the last few weeks and there is no guarantee that finishing second this season will give them a platform to go one step ahead next year and win the title. They were seven points clear of Manchester City at one point and a title winning side should be defeating West Ham, particularly after a two goal lead. Yes, missing out on the title will be as good as a disaster for Arsenal, particularly given their dominance all season, but ultimately, success is judged by trophies, not performances.
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