'Bottled it'. A phrase thrown around football so often that it has become a mainstay in a sport full of surprise results and miracles. But this season, Arsenal can claim the title of being the team that had the world at their feet, but yet could not capitalise on their supreme form to clinch the 2022/23
Premier League title.
Let's cast our minds back to January. Arsenal had just secured their first ever win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium over arch rivals, Spurs. A fairly simple win that consolidated their hold on the top spot as they moved eight points clear of Manchester City in second. At this point, Arsenal were cruising. Led by captain Martin Odegaard, youngster Bukayo Saka and the heroics of Aaron Ramsdale in goal, the Gunners were unstoppable. It was Arsenal's best start to a Premier League ever with 47 points from 18 games and they shocked the footballing world despite being written off and mostly predicted to finish fifth.
No one could expect Arsenal's form to increase so well and they made teams look extremely poor when playing them. Take a look at Spurs: managed by the world class, Antonio Conte, and also experiencing their best start to a season but yet were humbled, albeit helped by the mistakes of Hugo Lloris in goal. But, Arsenal cannot be faulted in their early quest for their first Premier League title since 2005. A fast, attacking style of football, complemented by a technically brilliant midfield and an unbreakable defence, it was Arsenal's title to lose.
Enter Manchester City. The light blue super power were in an unusual position. They were chasing a team to win the league. A position they had not been in since Liverpool won the title in the Covid-affected year of 2020. With City so used to dominance and looking at teams down from the safety of the number one spot, it could have been a tricky season for Guardiola's men.
But surely, without one man, their utter destruction of Arsenal could not have been achieved. Erling Haaland has had one of, if not, the best season ever in football history in terms of personal achievement. With 35 goals in 32 games in the league and a total of 51 goals in 46 games, Haaland has broken the record for most goals scored in a single Premier League season and also the most goals scored by a Manchester City player in a single season. There is no doubt about it: Haaland is a special player who can only get more successful in his career.
However, even with Haaland's heroics, Arsenal ultimately shot themselves in the foot. 6 points dropped from 3 consecutive games handed City the advantage. Going two nil up against Liverpool and West Ham, but only for it to come crashing down with a draw. The Gunners were lucky to draw at St Mary's against Southampton as they went 3-1 down. It was an invitation that Manchester City could not turn down as they kept winning with two games in hand also, before it came down to the showdown.
City vs Arsenal. 26 April. Etihad Stadium. 4-1 to City. Arsenal were completely torn apart. Their usually brilliant midfield was muddled and ineffective as Kevin De Bruyne performed at his consistent best to bully the Arsenal defence and command City into the driving seat in the race for the title. Arsenal appeared to revert back to their selves that us as fans have been so familiar with seeing. A timid performance compounded by their opponent's ability to score goals.
Guardiola, Haaland and De Bruyne pulverised Arsenal's chances of winning the Premier League. The game showed their weaknesses and also highlighted how they did not have the experience to go all the way, unlike City. The dominance of City in previous years did help but Arsenal's decline started a long while before the game between the two sides.
The Gunners have well and truly claimed the title, but not the one they would have wanted. By most likely finishing with no trophies in such a promising season, Arsenal have 'bottled it' and who knows how long it will be until they climb back to the summit of the English footballing pyramid.
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