Arsenal’s two-goal collapse against bottom-placed Wolves has reignited doubts over their mental readiness to end a 22-year title drought.
Throwing away a commanding lead at Molineux against one of the weakest sides in Premier League history raises questions about whether Mikel Arteta’s side can sustain their title challenge.
After moving six points clear of Aston Villa with a win over Bournemouth on January 3, Arsenal have won just two of their seven league games since and dropped four points in the past week.
“You have to take the hit because we deserve it,” Arteta admitted. “We need to be critical of ourselves because it is not good enough. In the league, it is the reality that we have not been consistent over the last few months.”
The title race remains open. Arsenal can still be crowned champions if they win all their remaining fixtures, but Manchester City could close the gap to two points with victory over Newcastle at the Etihad. City has a history of overturning leads in the run-in, while Arsenal now face one of the most dramatic collapses in Premier League history.
History shows similar patterns:
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1995-96: Newcastle’s 12-point lead was overturned by Manchester United, with Kevin Keegan famously breaking down under Ferguson’s psychological tactics.
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1997-98: Arsenal defeated Manchester United at Old Trafford but went on a 10-game winning streak that saw them claim the title, overturning United’s advantage.
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2002-03: Arsenal were eight points clear after beating Charlton but won just two of their next seven games, including a late 2-2 draw at Bolton, ending hopes of retaining the title.
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2007-08: Arsenal blew a five-point lead at Birmingham following a late meltdown by William Gallas, finishing third behind Manchester United.
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2011-12: Manchester United’s collapse against Everton and a loss to Manchester City allowed City to clinch the closest title race in Premier League history.
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2013-14: Liverpool’s season unravelled after Steven Gerrard’s infamous slip against Chelsea, with subsequent draws effectively ending their title hopes.
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2022-23: Arsenal went eight points clear after defeating Leeds but faltered with consecutive draws and a 4-1 loss to City at the Etihad, finishing five points behind.
Arteta admitted, “We were beaten by a better team. They were exceptional, and when that’s the case, it’s extremely difficult to reach that level. We were punished and we could have been even more punished.”
With history of dramatic collapses looming, Arsenal fans are left asking whether they should still believe or brace for a repeat of the past.
