Arsenal's late-season capitulation seems to be set handy Manchester City their third consecutive Premier League crown. Naturally, Mikel Arteta could discover it difficult to take positives from a blown alternative to one-up his City counterpart and former companion in crime, Pep Guardiola, however the stars are aligning for a particular interval within the Gunners' historical past, offering they stick with the plan.

On paper, Arsenal had been nowhere close to able to problem a dominant City facet buoyed by the big-money arrival of Erling Haaland final summer season. Returning to the top-four would have been thought of a job nicely carried out for Arteta this time period after agonisingly falling away to fifth in 2021/22.

Even 10 video games into this season, when Arsenal had been prime of the Premier League desk, Guardiola cited Liverpool as his facet's foremost title contenders for the months following. The City boss evidently underestimated his former assistant and the gifted gamers at his disposal.

Arsenal followers dared to dream lengthy earlier than their lead was lastly toppled by the Sky Blues in April. With Haaland on 36 league objectives and Guardiola's facet thriving in a newly-formed system, an influence shift on the prime had been coming, however the Gunners' dramatic downturn in type made certain it occurred in double-quick time.

Although there is no such thing as a disgrace in ending second, significantly relative to expectations at the beginning of the season, there's additionally little question that Arsenal have bottled the title. It's an unlucky behavior that Arteta and co have fallen into, paying homage to their ill-fated top-four push final season, and the psychological torment that comes with it's going to solely make the cycle tougher to interrupt.

The undeniable fact that Arsenal fell away in such whimpering vogue, compounded by their 3-0 defeat to Brighton on Sunday, is much more regarding in context. The circumstances might hardly have been extra beneficial for Arteta. His facet crashed out of the FA Cup within the fourth spherical and the Carabao Cup within the third spherical, whereas their Europa League push did not final lengthy both.

The Gunners' sole focus down the ultimate stretch has been on successful the title. City, against this, have contended with a deep FA Cup run and an all-important Champions League marketing campaign, which can be much more vital for Guardiola than the Premier League itself. Although Arteta has constructed one thing incredible on the Emirates Stadium, he isn't with out fault for the way in which the season has unfolded.

His dealing with of William Saliba's devastating harm setback has left many to marvel what might need been. Put merely, Arteta chosen the fallacious deputy to step into the back-line. Arsenal's momentum deteriorated with Rob Holding in defence, and January signing Jakub Kiwior has confirmed in current weeks that he was adequate to be trusted.

Much has additionally been manufactured from Arteta's fiery touchline antics, which began months earlier than the title run-in. A burning need to win is tough to criticise, however these on the pitch will inevitably have seen their supervisor shedding all composure at common intervals, which hardly painted an image of Arsenal controlling the title race and City enjoying catch-up.

The panicked performances adopted, culminating in a run of two wins from their final seven video games. With the door left ajar, Guardiola's facet have swooped in ruthlessly, however in contrast to Arsenal, they'd the instruments to take action.

For all their thrilling kids, the Gunners merely do not have a Haaland or a Kevin De Bruyne to tug the passengers to 3 factors once they want it most. Arsenal have excelled as a collective this season, and that is simply as nicely, with Arteta's traditional suspects nonetheless younger and studying their commerce.

Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and William Saliba are all phenomenal - think about how good they are often in one other 5 years. It's solely a matter of time earlier than one or all of that quartet break freed from the collective and discover that further gear to hold Arsenal by way of testing durations, just like the one they've skilled over the previous few weeks.

After ending fifth final season, beating Man City to the title was by no means prone to be the following stage in Arteta's long-term venture, however it definitely shall be now. Another yr of top-class expertise and a summer season of high-quality additions ought to make the Gunners title challengers for years to return, even with the rigours of Champions League soccer on the horizon.

That's precisely why supporters have causes to really feel constructive for what lies forward, even when admitting that Arteta and his facet weren't able to win this yr's Premier League crown stays a bitter tablet to swallow.