LIVERPOOL — Though Arsenal finds itself atop the Premier League table this Christmas, Mikel Arteta’s squad is beginning to resemble a toy whose batteries drain far too quickly.
However, they are showing resilience. Just a week after laboring to a 2-1 victory against the league’s bottom team, Wolverhampton Wanderers—where they clinched the win due to an own goal in stoppage time—the Gunners demonstrated their mental and physical toughness by securing a 1-0 triumph over Everton on Saturday, just hours after Manchester City had reclaimed the top spot with a comfortable win against West Ham United.
A first-half penalty from Viktor Gyökeres, awarded for a handball by Jake O’Brien, secured all three points—though Leandro Trossard and Martín Zubimendi both hit the post later on. However, it was a gritty performance rather than one filled with the flair and attacking prowess typically associated with Arsenal, hinting that their struggles with creativity and finishing could become a recurring issue.
Not long ago, Arsenal had established a six-point lead at the top, seven points ahead of City, following a remarkable Eberechi Eze hat trick that contributed to a decisive 4-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates.
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At that moment, Arteta’s team appeared to be significantly ahead of their rivals, and a clear path to their first league title since 2004 seemed to materialize, especially as City and defending champions Liverpool faced unexpected setbacks.
But the vision of a straightforward title run has faded. Manchester City is now closing in on Arsenal, suggesting that if the Gunners aspire to finish the season as champions, they will need to truly earn it.
The silver lining from their narrow wins against Everton and Wolves is that Arsenal is managing to secure victories even when their performances lack their usual brilliance. This resilience is often indicative of a champion mentality.
On a more critical note, there are signs that Arsenal may be feeling the pressure, with their deficiencies becoming increasingly apparent just as City begins to find form once again under Pep Guardiola. Based on their recent outing against Everton, it appears Arsenal may have lost some of their earlier-season momentum.
Following their triumph over Spurs, Arsenal had just ended a 10-match winning streak across all competitions with a 2-2 draw against Sunderland. The win against Spurs had seemed to right the ship, yet since then, they faced a draw against Chelsea and a loss to Aston Villa, while the victories over Wolves and Everton were aided by two own goals and a penalty.
Are these victories convincing? Certainly not. But all teams face challenges during a season, and if this is Arsenal’s rough patch, they are at least managing to secure just enough points to maintain their lead over City and other contenders.
Nevertheless, history looms large for Arsenal, and this factor may ultimately determine the success or failure of their current title pursuit.
Thus, Arteta’s squad is not overly focused on being the Christmas number one for the third time in four years. In their previous two seasons atop the table on December 25—2023-24 and 2022-23—Arsenal ended as runners-up to City, who have positioned themselves as significant challengers yet again, boasting five consecutive league wins.
City’s recent form, with 11 goals scored and none conceded in their last four games, presents a formidable challenge for Arsenal, especially considering Guardiola’s side is experiencing a resurgence.
Moreover, City reclaimed the top position for the first time in 14 months before Arsenal’s match added another psychological challenge for the Gunners, but they kept their composure against a tenacious Everton squad led by David Moyes.
“We’re not focused on that,” Arteta remarked when questioned about the added pressure from City’s success. “I understand that you all do.”
“The only thing we can control is our own performance and results, and we recognize how challenging this league is and how much time there is left.”
“The [winning] margin should have been larger, but we must learn while continuing to secure victories.”
“That’s our focus: enjoy each day, give your best, and see what outcomes await us.”
Engaging in a title race is a privilege few teams experience. Such seasons are intense, lengthy struggles, and even during their dominant stretch when winning four consecutive titles, City faced formidable adversaries before achieving their goals.
This is the challenge Arsenal faces now, going up against a seasoned competitor in City—a team that has thwarted their title hopes before. Nevertheless, Arsenal can take a moment to appreciate being on top this Christmas, but they must ensure they remain at the summit come May for it to truly matter.