Top of the league and in charge of the title race, only to fade away and be pipped at the post - Arsenal have been there before.
But nine points clear after 32 games played and still failing to win the league? No team in Premier League history has capitulated to that extent.
Could Mikel Arteta’s side really be the first to throw it away from that position?
After back-to-back draws with nearest rivals Manchester City, and a four-game winning streak for the Gunners, many were beginning to assume Arsenal‘s 22-year wait for the Premier League title was finally set to end.
Saturday’s chastening 2-1 home defeat by Bournemouth, however, has once again left the door ajar for Pep Guardiola’s side, who have two games in hand on the Gunners.
“They could blow it playing like that,” said former Newcastle and England forward Alan Shearer, who is a pundit on Saturday’s Match of the Day.
“They were poor in every department. No energy, flat – they looked very, very nervous.
“The whole place seemed nervous. As they haven’t won it for so long, I perhaps understand, but they have to get through that, or they’re going to miss out.”
Arteta described Arsenal‘s first league defeat since January as “a big punch to the face” and a “painful day”.
“That’s what I said to the boys – and now it’s about how we react to that,” he added.
React, they must. Their next league game is at City next Sunday – and it could go a long way to deciding the title.
History still on Gunners’ side – what the stats say
Nine points clear with six games to play – you would have thought it was practically a done deal for Arsenal, despite the defeat by Bournemouth.
As it is, with games in hand a factor, they may not even be top by the time they next play at Emirates Stadium.
If Manchester City beat Chelsea on Sunday, they will cut the gap to six points, and will trim the deficit further if they are able to beat the Gunners next Sunday.
City then travels to Burnley for their other game in hand on Wednesday, 22 April. Another victory in that match – providing they have been able to wipe out Arsenal‘s six-goal advantage on goal difference by then – will see
Guardiola’s side sit top with five to play.
The title race does still remain in Arsenal‘s hands – but it is now also in Manchester City‘s, given the game between the two next weekend.
Manchester United threw away an eight-point advantage after 32 games in 2011-12 – when City went on to win the title – but a nine-point lead has never been surrendered at this stage of a season.
Arteta’s men have, however, gained a reputation for letting leads slip.
They were top after 32 games played in 2022-23 and finished second, although they were only five points ahead of City, who also had two games in hand then.
In the Premier League era, they’ve been top after playing their 32nd game on four occasions, winning the title in 2001-02 and 2003-04 and finishing second in 2002-03 and 2022-23.
They have never been nine points clear at this stage of a campaign.
Data analysts Opta still give Arsenal a 93.62% chance of winning the title, based on thousands of simulations of each team’s remaining fixtures.
I don’t think there is pressure’
Whatever the result, this was a poor performance by Arsenal, who looked jaded compared to a fresh Bournemouth side that had not played for three weeks.
This was the 53rd game of the Gunners’ season, as they have been attempting to win trophies in multiple competitions.
However, defeats in the Carabao Cup final, FA Cup quarter-finals, and now against the Cherries mean they have lost three of their last four in all competitions.
Arsenal were without Bukayo Saka, captain Martin Odegaard, and Jurrien Timber through injury, while Myles Lewis-Skelly was making just his second start of the season at left-back, with Riccardo Calafiori also unavailable.
“I thought the result in Lisbon in midweek would have helped them massively, just to get a little bit of momentum and confidence after the two cup defeats,” added Shearer.
“But there was nothing I saw today that would give me confidence that they’re going to go and win the league.”
There was a nervous atmosphere inside the stadium, with loose passes met with groans from the home supporters, as it was clear the Gunners were not at their best.
