Arsenal’s Nerve To Be Put To The Ultimate Test
Having last won the Premier League title back in the 2003/04 season, Arsenal finds themselves back in the thick of a race to be English champions once again.
With reigning champions Manchester City also firmly in the mix in what is a two-horse race, Arsenal’s nerve will be put to the ultimate test for the remainder of what has been a thrilling season in England’s top flight.
Gunners Must Steady The Ship After Wobble
Arsenal was flying under manager Mikel Arteta over the first few months of the year and put together a seven-match winning run in the Premier League. The Gunners, who are 7/4 in sport betting Zambia market to win the Premier League outright his season, saw their title credentials put to the test in April when they faced Liverpool.
Finding themselves 2-0 up in the first 28 minutes, the north London outfit ended up drawing the game 2-2 at Anfield. Certainly not the end of the world for Arteta’s side but possibly an opportunity missed to overcome a significant hurdle on the way to a potential title.
Arsenal then found themselves in a similar position in the following game at West Ham United but this time it only took 10 minutes for the visitors to race into a 2-0 lead at the London Stadium. West Ham again responded with both teams scoring and the match finishing in another 2-2 stalemate.
Confidence will certainly have been shaken after throwing away two 2-0 leads and seeing a total of four points dropped at Anfield and the London Stadium. Arsenal faltered when it mattered last season in their hopes of finishing in the top four and, after those two draws, they will be determined the same does not happen again with the English crown on the line this year.
Manchester City Have Been There And Done It
What will possibly jangle the nerves even more in the Arsenal camp is the fact their title rivals Manchester City know what it takes to edge a Premier League title race.
City held their nerve on the final day last season to come from 2-0 down to beat Aston Villa at the Etihad and cruelly deny manager Jürgen Klopp and his talented Liverpool side what would have been a second Premier League crown.
City boss Pep Guardiola has been successful at whatever club he has been at. From his titles with Barcelona and Bayern Munich, the Spanish tactician has made City a formidable force in England and in Europe. Arteta worked under Guardiola during his time as an assistant coach at the Etihad Stadium and the managers know each other well. The battle between the master and the apprentice adds another element to what looks set to be another tricky title race to predict.
Arsenal has been the team to catch since their electric start to the season. The remaining weeks will show if the Gunners have the nerve to stay the course and finally end their long wait for Premier League glory.
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