If Arsenal are to aim for their first Premier League title in over 20 years, they must break free of their fear and get back to dominating teams.
My nerves are buzzing and I can tell that I’m already nervous. Arsenal fans should be enjoying this season. They are top of the Premier League, top of the Champions League table and have reached the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup.
However, Arsenal are suffering from serious concerns. Although they lead the three-horse title race, it is Arsenal who are biting their nails and are on the brink of being plagued by doubt and uncertainty. And it would be too naive to suggest otherwise.
Aston Villa come to the Emirates on Tuesday night riding the crest of an 11-game winning streak. Manchester City seem at ease because they have been there many times before, seen it, done it and won.
Arsenal fans are making the players nervous. The players are making the fans nervous. Mikel Arteta has undoubtedly been more calm on the touchline this season, but even he is struggling to quell a growing sense of anxiety.
read more: Mikel Arteta plans revenge on Aston Villa and wants Arsenal to ‘torture’ themread more: Transfer request for Antoine Semenyo has been made as Manchester City, Liverpool and Man United plan to do so.
So the bigger question and puzzle is how Arsenal can break the cycle. And how did this happen?
How do Arsenal go from being 2-0 up in cruise control against Brighton to a nervy disaster with David Raya having to produce his best save of the season to lead his team to a nervy 2-1 win, or taking the lead against Wolves and Crystal Palace and ultimately winning with a 94th-minute own goal and a penalty shoot-out respectively?
Maybe that’s a good thing and it’s positive that they found a way to win. But many Emirates regulars don’t think that way.
They were supposed to dominate the team (their XG consistently exceeds their goal return), but Arsenal seem crushed under the pressure of expectations. Even if the injury doesn’t affect Arsenal’s season, it feels like it could cause some nerves.
Having been runner-up in the title race for three years only adds to the pressure. This year should be Arsenal’s year. And we don’t know it. You can’t avoid it.
They were unlikely to be challengers in the 2022/23 season, when many neutrals wanted them to win, but they are no longer brave underdogs. They are currently seen as having wasted a lot of money on a brash manager (not necessarily the right word) and seem to be singled out by most pundits.
They are expected to win. Fans are demanding that. In theory, they should win this year and will never have a better chance. It’s time for Arteta to win a big trophy.
It almost feels like the weight of expectations is on Victor Gokeres’ shoulders. The striker, who was signed for £64m to score goals in the title race, appears to be held back by fear.
Arsenal also have a mixed record against Unai Emery’s Aston Villa. Last season, they overcame a 2-0 lead against the Emirates to draw 2-2. Last season, they lost 2-0 to Villa in April, effectively ending their hopes of winning the title.
The Gunners have a deep squad and high quality, but they can only become the best team if they win. And they have to prove they can live up to those expectations.
And therein lies the problem. Crossing the finish line opens the floodgates to continued success. If we don’t win this time, more questions will arise and next season will be even more difficult. And that’s the source of this season’s horror.
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