The title race was always going to test Arsenal, and the 1-1 draw at Brentford has intensified the challenge for Mikel Arteta’s side.
They remain in the strongest position among the chasing clubs, leading the Premier League by four points with only three losses. Yet with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City closing in, that lead feels fragile.
Narrow Margins and Missed Opportunities
Arsenal could have extended their lead to six points with a win at Brentford. A victory over Wolves next Wednesday could have increased it to nine points, taking advantage of City’s schedule.
Manchester City’s past title chases have shown their ability to produce incredible runs. Meanwhile, Arsenal has finished second in three consecutive seasons.
With 12 games left, history does not favor Arsenal’s end-of-season form. In the past five campaigns, only once has Arsenal won 10 of their final 12 Premier League matches. In those seasons, the Gunners never outscored the eventual champions in points during the last 12 games.
Arteta Stresses Focus Amid Pressure
The noise surrounding Arsenal’s title challenge prompted questions about whether Arteta needs to shield his team from panic. He responded:
“We have to focus on winning every match. We prepare to raise our level individually and collectively to be better than every opponent.”
Before Manchester City’s dramatic win against Liverpool, Arsenal looked set to be nine points clear. Erling Haaland’s late penalty and City’s win over Fulham reduced the gap to three points, adding pressure back onto the Gunners.
Arteta added: “Playing after City doesn’t create new pressure. We have managed this situation well before and won games.”
Arsenal has scored first in 17 Premier League games this season, and the draw at Brentford marked only their second failure to win, alongside a January loss to Manchester United.
Players Missing at a Crucial Time
Arsenal faced Brentford without centre-back William Saliba due to illness. Saliba’s partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes has helped limit goals conceded to just 18 this season.
Since 2022-23, Arsenal’s win rate with Saliba stands at 68.6% in the Premier League, averaging 2.3 points per game. Without him, the team’s win rate drops to 42.1% and 1.6 points per game.
Kai Havertz also missed the game with a muscle injury shortly after returning from a long-term knee problem. Arteta included Viktor Gyokeres and Piero Hincapie in the starting XI at Brentford.
However, Arsenal has won only two of the last seven Premier League games where they changed four or more starters from the previous match.
Experts Weigh In on the Title Race
Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown commented: “People worry about Man City chasing, but Arsenal are still four points clear. You get knocked down, then you rise again. The true fighters will show themselves.”
Peter Crouch added: “City’s experience creates tension late in the season. But you would much rather be in Arsenal’s position. This is their best chance to win the title.”
He noted that traditional rivals have weakened: “City aren’t the same as before, Liverpool and United aren’t as strong, Chelsea also struggles. The opportunity for Arsenal is real. If they fail, serious questions remain.”
Arsenal now faces a critical phase where history, pressure, and missing key players all collide. The final 12 games will test whether the Gunners can turn promise into glory.
