Arsenal messed up their season just like last year. Once again, it paid the price for its narrow defence

Last spring, Gunners fans were sure of the Top 4 and the Champions League, this year a large part of the supporters were counting on the title. But this time, too, Arsenal’s performance went downhill after an excellent first part of the season, three rounds before the end, they can only theoretically think about the championship title.

Mikel Arteta has repeatedly mentioned the failed end of last season. Three rounds before the end, Arsenal suffered from injuries and a lack of quality bench. In the crucial battle with Tottenham, Rob Holding buried the game.

The English stopper was at fault for a penalty and got himself sent off, and Cedric Soares, also a substitute with his best seasons behind him, certainly did not impress. The Gunners then didn’t even make it through the game at Newcastle and fourth place was taken by Tottenham.

The breakthrough started with a good point

Mentally, Arsenal looked much stronger this year. On a few occasions it looked like it was going to be in crisis, but it handled the critical moments. Namely the turnovers against Aston Villa and Bournemouth, then winning the battle with Manchester United (3: 2).

The only crisis came at the turn of January and February, Mikel Arteta’s charges lost three times in a row, dropping out of the Europa League, but then they picked themselves up and took the lead back. They lost another point at the start of April in a 2-2 draw at Anfield.

At that time, Arsenal were leading 2-0 and outplaying their opponents, but after the change of sides, a completely different Liverpool came in and completely outplayed the Gunners. In the end Arsenal took the division of points, after all Manchester City were six points behind with the match to spare.

Key losses to worse

After the loss to Liverpool, Arsenal could still be calm, only that they also lost a two-goal lead at West Ham and only drew 2-2. Then they were incomprehensibly burnt out at home against Southampton, the 3: 3 draw was more of a loss of points for Saints considering the run of play.

Arsenal threw themselves in the bin again due to the loss of two key defenders. Holding was not an adequate replacement this time either and against Manchester City, what was expected happened. The upstart Citizens ran Arsenal over and took them out of contention for the title. The Brighton game was just the final nail in the coffin.

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