A look across the last four seasons suggests the popular version of Arsenal’s run-ins is far lazier than the reality.
After Arsenal’s defeat to Bournemouth last weekend there has been a lot of ‘dialogue’. The fact that many of the sensible comments have come from pundits who are paid to be contrary tells you a lot about where we are as a fanbase.
I was taken aback by the strength of the anti-Arteta feeling in the wake of the defeat that left Arsenal top of the Premier League with six games remaining. Sure, it wasn’t ideal, and the team looked awful, but demanding Arteta’s removal seemed to me a rather ridiculous thing to be saying.
The argument seems to be this – “If Arsenal fail to win the title this season they will have finished second in the last four seasons and that proves that Mikel Arteta cannot get them across the line. Arsenal are always awful in April when it matters.”
That sounds reasonable enough on its face, but scratch at it just a little and it throws up more questions than answers about how people remember things.
22/23
Arsenal weren’t expected to be Premier League title contenders in 22/23 and it was a surprise to everyone that they were.
Arsenal’s season split neatly into a blistering start, a strong mid-season, then a wobble in April before a mixed but solid finish in May.
A run of three draws led up to a showdown against City in Manchester on 26 April that saw Arsenal get a 4-1 thumping.
Still, the title was there to be won but six dropped points in the final three games ensured City took the crown by five points.
- Games played in April 2023: 5
- Games won in April 2023: 1
- Games lost in April 2023: 2
Can you bottle something you weren’t expected to win? Perhaps.
23/24
After being surprise contenders in the season before, Arsenal were in the conversation from the start of this season.
Had Spurs any pride at all, Arsenal would have won the title. The Gunners won their last six games in the league, including victories over Chelsea, Tottenham and United.
Spurs fans, however, celebrated their side bending over for City in May with four games remaining and Pep Guardiola’s men won the league by two points after a run of eight wins in a row.
- Games played in April 2024: 7
- Games won in April 2024: 5
- Games lost in April 2024: 1
23/24 is a season that shows the ‘narrative’ around Arsenal for the nonsense it is, because there was no bottling here or failing to deliver.
Is it bottling to win your last six games and miss out to the richest team on the planet by two points? No.
24/25
Last season, Arsenal were expected to kick-on from their near-miss the year before but injuries struck to a devastating degree and they were out of the title race long before April.
With only four defeats, too many draws were costly, with Arsenal also missing a lethal striker, something that was never mentioned even once by the media.
Arsenal only lost one game in their last 12 (to 1-2 v Bournemouth at the Emirates in May)
- Games played in April 2025: 5
- Games won in April 2025: 3
- Games lost in April 2025: 1
Can you bottle a race you were out of due to injuries before crunch time? No.
25/26
That all brings us to this season. At the time of writing, Arsenal are top of the table by six points having played one game more than Manchester City.
Since the turn of the year, after 13 games, City have closed the gap on Arsenal by one point.
The sides meet on Sunday.
So, to recap:
- 1 unexpected title challenge
- 1 near miss
- 1 challenge ruined by injuries.
- 1 season not over yet
The only thing this really proves is how short and malleable some memories are.