Arsenal had a great chance to win their first Premier League title on April 1, 2023, with an eight-point lead. Unfortunately, things took a turn for the worse as they had three draws in a row and lost to Manchester City. This ruined all their hard work over eight and a half months in just 19 days. It reminded fans of a similar situation in the 2007-08 season when they also lost a big lead due to four consecutive draws. Despite the disappointment, Arsenal can still be proud of what they achieved, considering that nobody expected them to be in the title race at the beginning of the season. However, it’s undoubtedly a painful collapse for Arteta and his team.
Arsenal had a terrific season despite finishing second. Throughout the season, though, there were indicators that Arsenal may struggle. One difficulty was their lack of bench choices. They possessed talented players like Saka, Martinelli, Jesus, Odegaard, Partey, and Xhaka, but if any of them suffered injuries, there weren’t enough quality replacements. Arsenal had obstacles late in the season that harmed their hopes of winning the Premier League. One issue was that their key players had to play practically every match, which tired them out. This fatigue was evident in their April performances, which included three draws against Liverpool, West Ham United, and Southampton.
Another issue was the absence of William Saliba, an important defender who got injured. Without him, Arsenal’s defense became weaker, giving their opponents more chances to score goals.
Furthermore, Arsenal’s lack of experience contributed to their title demise. They had one of the Premier League’s youngest sides and didn’t expect to be in the title race at the start of the season. Their inexperience became apparent as the pressure mounted with the chance of winning the Premier League. Manchester City, on the other hand, had the benefit of prior heated title campaigns, which helped them handle critical times. In seasons such as 2018-19 and beyond, City demonstrated their experience by winning crucial matches and securing the title by razor-thin margins.
In the end, Arsenal couldn’t maintain their lead and missed the chance to win their first Premier League title. The lack of squad depth, tiredness, Saliba’s absence, and the team’s relative inexperience were factors that contributed to their downfall. Despite the disappointment, Arsenal can still take pride in their unexpected journey to the top, but the collapse in the final stage was undoubtedly difficult for manager Mikel Arteta and his team.
