Nottingham Forest 1-0 Arsenal: Arsenal was the leader of the Premier League for no less than 248 days, but the national title will also go to Manchester City this season. The English analysts put their finger on the sore spot after the disappointing results of The Gunners in recent weeks.
English analysts draw painful conclusions about Arsenal
At the beginning of April, Arsenal still had an eight-point lead over City, which had played a game less at the time. However, of the eight subsequent Premier League matches, coach Mikel Arteta’s team managed to win only two. City, in turn, won eight times in a row and are now, two games before the end, champions of the Premier League.
“The last few weeks have been really tough for Arsenal and I think it has to do with the mentality,” Gary Neville told Sky Sports. “I think there is really a question of giving away the title here, especially when you look at the way they lost their points: games in which they gave away a lead,” he reflects.
“If you want to be champion, you have to deliver at the biggest moments, when the pressure is the highest. I’ve always had my doubts about this Arsenal team in that area,” said Neville. Colleague Jamie Carragher agrees. “The biggest disappointment for Arsenal is the collapse in the second half of the season. The difference with the first six months is huge, we can’t deny that.”
“They need to get more quality players”
“Arsenal were halfway on fifty points, but then they fell far away. One of the main reasons for this is the width of the selection. They need to get more quality players,” says Carragher. Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard have played every game this season, but your top players can’t play everything. Look at Kevin De Bruyne at City. He gets some rest now and then. And is perhaps the best Premier League player of the last four or five years.
Carragher speaks of a missed opportunity for Arsenal. He said, “How many times will Arsenal be in the position of being eight points clear with ten rounds to go? It was an incredible position and they blew it, we can’t deny that. They’ve had a great season, but I would be very surprised if they find themselves in a situation like that again next season with a team like Manchester City as a competitor.”
