Ordinarily I'd be pretty happy with taking a point away to Liverpool at Anfield and a point away to West Ham while not fantastic, would usually not be the end of the world. However in Arsenal's two recent games they gave up two goal leads in each of them and that is the really worrying fact coming into the closing stages of the season.
I'm a glass half full type of person though, so the positive I take from it is that we didn't lose either these games. In seasons gone by we would have most certainly lost one, if not both of those games where they were in the melting pot going in the closing stages. Away games in the premier League are never going to be a picnic but when you take a two goal lead you really need to kick on and win the match. Had City taken a two goal lead in either, they would have won comfortably, but Arsenal almost need a 3 goal lead to look comfortable. The recent injuries hitting their back four is really costing them at the moment, especially Saliba who had formed a formidable centre back partnership with Gabriel.
Back to giving up two goal leads. That worries me to be honest. We need some of the senior players like Xhaka and Thomas Partay to step up to the mark and lead by example. This is a team of youngsters in the main who needs senior players to guide them in these last seven matches. It's been an unbelievable season, no doubt about it, but there is a Premier League title on the line here and it may be a while before we can get this close to winning one again. So we really need to give it everything in the last seven matches to get over the line and that is not just skill and ability but the dark arts also winning ugly when it needs to be done. At 2-2 yesterday, we had no plan B and persisted with the short little passes out from the back, right up to the last minute. Why not bring on a few big men and try some direct balls forward on occasion?
On paper we have the tougher run in with games against some relegation contenders in Southampton and Notts Forest. We also need to play Chelsea, Brighton and Newcastle who will give us a run for our money, especially Newcastle and Brighton who are enjoying their best seasons in years, both with eyes on European Football next season.
Then of course on Wednesday April 26th at 8 p.m. we play Man City at the Etihad and that game really I think will decide where the Premier League title will go this season. I believe if Man City beat us, they will win the league but if we somehow win that match or even get a draw then we still have a chance to end that almost 20 year drought of Premier League victories.
Something that struck me while watching yesterday's match was the indecision around who would take Arsenal's penalty when they were 1-2 up and rewarded a penalty for handball. There should have been no discussion it should have been decided before the game who would be the penalty taker. It's a lot of pressure to put on a young player like Saka in my opinion. I believe a senior player and a striker and a very good one at that in Jesus should have taken their responsibility stood up and took the penalty and scored it. That would have put us 1-3 up and we would have gone on to win the match comfortably. Those are the margins that this level and I also was shocked to see Jesus taken off, I would have played him for 90 minutes, as he was our most dogged player in my opinion. Perhaps it was because he was on a yellow card?
So let's have a little look at those run ins again shall we...
This is what Arsenal's run in looks like and although I'd like Arsenal to have a chance of a double or treble, the lack of FA cup or European football might well play into our hands. Manchester City will have eight competitive games to play in April, while Arsenal only have six. Then May will see Arsenal play four times, with City potentially playing much more if their FA cup and Champions League runs continue. That could be a factor.
As I was saying Man City have one eye on Europe this year and I fully expect them ro make it to the final and to be honest as a Gunner, I hope they do, as the extra games will take more out of them and Pep will be forced to rest players with so many matches on all fronts.
Even though Arsenal are four points clear, Man City have a game in hand and they are purring like a well oiled machine at the moment and it seems noone can get near them. Sometimes though one shock result can rock the boat and I'm really hoping that this happens with City this year.
There are only seven games to go for Arsenal and as things stand, things are still in their own hands, we need to go out now on Friday and beat Southampton handsomely and regain some poise and composure. Then we can travel to the Etihad with a 7 point margin. That would be significant, as games in hand still have to be played and won and no game in the Premier League is a gimme, even for Pep's City team.
What I would like to see though is Arsenal rough them up on Wednesday. Get stuck in from the first tackle. Win every ball. Win the dirty second ball. Play with desire commitment and drive and show how much they want this. Don't let City settle and press them high up the pitch.
Last time I posted about Arsenal, Paddy Power was offering me the below cash out option on a bet I placed at the start of the season.
Worryingly the bookies have now shaved €100 off that cash out option, but I'm still going to let it run for the shits and giggles.
It's going to be an exciting two months to see if my €20 can morph into €520 and also more importantly see if my beloved Gunners can reclaim the Premier League title after a long long wait.
These are all original photos captured by me on my Samsung Smartphone
