With less than 10 games remaining, Arsenal were on the verge of being crowned the Champions of England. The team was at the top of the table for most of the season. Arsenal had a young squad with a winning mentality that got them through opponents. Nobody would have predicted that Arsenal could lose the title race to Manchester City.
So, what happened? Why did Arsenal bottle the league, and what did they lack at the end of the season? Let’s take a look.
Goal Conversion
The Arsenal team was scoring for fun at the start of the season and had great odds on Betway. The forwards, Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, were either on the score sheet or had goal contributions. Gabriel Jesus was injured during the World Cup campaign with Brazil in Qatar and had to undergo surgery. With the help of a backup striker Nketiah, the remaining duo kept scoring, and betting on Arsenal was a smart move at the time as they kept their title hopes alive.
However, Arsenal could not maintain the same goal-scoring ratio coming toward the end of the season. They have only won 2 games in their last 5 premier league encounters while not scoring a single goal in their previous 2 games. Goals win games, and Arsenal’s lack of goals towards the end of the season made them lose the title race.
A Solid Back-Line
Arsenal lost one of their key defenders coming towards the end of the season. William Saliba featured in almost all games for Mikel Arteta’s side. He played at the center back position, partnering with Gabriel. Saliba limped off the pitch when Arsenal exited the Europa League. The center back is yet to feature for the Gunners.
Playing without their main defender changed the dynamics of Arsenal’s back line. They conceded goals and managed to keep only one clean sheet out of their last 10 league games. Opponents could easily penetrate their defense and score goals, making it convincing to bet against them on Betway. The likes of Rob Holding and Benjamin White were unable to fill William Saliba’s shoes.
Consistency in Form
Arsenal won most of their games in the first half of the season. They had 15 wins, 2 draws, and 2 losses, having played 19 games. The team was winning matches and maintained consistency. They always came back during the match whenever they conceded a goal. The Gunners were at the top of the table with 47 points, 2 more points than the defending champions, Manchester City.
Coming towards the end of the season with 4 games remaining, Manchester City had closed the gap. They overtook Arsenal, who at the time had 78 points, and City, 79 points, with a game in hand. The lack of consistency in performance led to this upset. Their recent dip in form saw them lose at home to Brighton and away at Nottingham Forest despite having the highest winning odds at Betway. These two losses resulted in Arsenal bottling the league and exiting the title race early.
Final Thoughts
Arsenal had the league title in their grasp. Sometimes all it takes is a champion’s mentality to go all the way and lift the trophy. This is something that Arsenal lacked. With the Citizens already crowned as champions, all that remains is waiting for the next season for another thrilling title race.
