That’s what failing in two (hopefully three) consecutive title races can do to a fan base, especially considering that their last title came in 2004. Not to mention their massive spending to make the team competitive…
I agree with you, I’d still be cautious. I hate to see people declaring the title race over because of one great weekend for Liverpool. It’s almost as if they want to jinx it. Imagine Liverpool losing to Newcastle and Arsenal winning at Forest - the same people who declared Liverpool champions in February would start writing the obituaries for their title prospects and talk about pressure getting to them. In February!
While I don’t disagree with the general sentiments, your example also illustrates why it’s a lot harder. If that scenario occurs, then they would be in the exact same position as they were before the weekend, with two fewer games to catch up. That’s all there is to it, really.
Mentality of the Arse players having to go into these games of ‘catch-up’ can’t be in a good place at the moment, and surely that will impact upon their form…
We continually pick up points every match, which in itself would be soul destroying to them.
We also seem to be getting a second wind coming out these cold dark wintry months… Our players seem happy going about their business on the pitch…
If they are looking for a chink in our armour to give them some encouragement… it is going to be almost impossible to find one
COYR
I think it hasn’t been helped by Arteta’s own comments which will have raised expectations and fostered a distrust amongst the fanbase of refereeing decisions.
FIFY.
I think the third failure will prove much more difficult for the arsenal fanbase to take.
The fact that they’ve spent money to strengthen (even if not in one key area) and still come up short in the third season where City had a massive dip.
The entitled fanbase of theirs will feel pissed that they aren’t there to take advantage of City’s slip up.
I think Slot pretty much said it yesterday when discussing that after Wednesday it was deemed we had let it slip and we were in a slump and 5 days later we’ve won the league.
I wasn’t as downhearted and livid after Everton as I would have been in any previous season but I was pretty concerned after the Villa draw. One weekend has changed that result to a good one - and hopefully knocked the wind out of Arsenal’s sails.
I can’t get used to having to be near perfect to win the title but it seems that Arsenal can’t either. Hopefully our lads have it in them to last all the way, especially with Arsenal’s injury crisis up front.
I think fans have to realise that this isn’t 2017-20. Since then, the league has been won with 86, 93, 89,and 91 points. That’s an average of 89.75.
Our current trajectory has us heading for 90. Arsenal’s current trajectory has them heading for 77.5. That means that this season, we’re that team. It is now mathematically impossible for Arsenal to reach 90.
A buffer of 5 points is still immense, even if West Ham hadn’t done us a favour. And mind you, we stilll haven’t played them at Anfield yet; they won 1-0 at the Emirates despite losing 5-2 at the Olympic Stadium. There’s no reason to pop the cork, there’s also no reason to despair.
Believe it or not, Arne has made us rather… boring.
Forest will beat them. They have their own top four fight, and will want to bounce back from a loss to Newcastle.
Arsenal whine and moan way too much. Yes, they have been unlucky with injuries, but they aren’t the only team who has had injuries. They have spent a fortune and have a deep squad. They also have a couple of young players coming through who look very good indeed. They have a lot going for them.
Mentality is not one of those things. In fact, I think the gap will widen further and they will throw in the towel, possibly as soon as Wednesday night after Forest beat them.
It makes you wonder at what point Arteta decides to put all his eggs in the CL basket… The pressures from chasing us in the PL, will be knocking the stuffing out of his players every week…
I hope so but I’m less confident. NewSandCastle tore Forest apart and I think they’ve lost what made them so tough when we played them and I expect Arsenal to win. Our game against NewSandCastle will be very tough and I could see the gap narrowing if anythign.
Should have won against Villa , Everton. And even Forest away I dare say. That’s 6 points lost. And we would be looking far more comfortable than now.
No ifs and buts about that.
We played better against Villa than what we did against Everton. But if we can use the performances against City(home and away) as a benchmark, we shouldn’t have a problem.
Ironically our worst performance of the season came against wolves at home. So that’s a much needed reminder that we can be our worst enemy at times.
