As the 2022/23 Premier League season reaches its climax, Arsenal are still the shock leaders of the English topflight with just a handful of games remaining. That is an incredible achievement, especially considering the fact that The Gunners finished fifth last season and were a whopping 24 points behind eventual champions Manchester City. But in recent weeks, the wheels have come off the bus somewhat at the Emirates.
Back on April 9th, Arsenal looked as though they were going to take a huge step towards their first title in almost two years with a huge victory against Liverpool at Anfield. The visitors raced into a 2-0 lead but were eventually pegged back. The same thing then happened when the Gunners headed to the London Stadium to face off against West Ham United, with the Hammers also rescuing a point after trailing by two goals. However, the most disappointing result of all came on April 21st, when Arteta’s men stumbled to a 3-3 draw at home to rock-bottom Southampton.
Who Are the Favorites Now?
After three consecutive draws, you can see the latest odds on Bovada now make Manchester City massive 1.22 (-450) favorites for a fifth Premier League crown in six years this term. And with the pair facing off at the Etihad Stadium at the end of April, it’s clear to see why. Pep Guardiola’s Blues are now five points behind Arsenal with two games in hand, meaning that if they win all their remaining games throughout the rest of the campaign, they will be crowned champions.
City are still alive and kicking in both the UEFA Champions League and the FA Cup. They will face off against Real Madrid in the semifinals of the former of those competitions, as well as battle city rivals Manchester United in the final of the latter. Could that leave the door open for Arsenal to somehow claw themselves back into contention?
It isn’t just a trip to the Etihad which could be ominous for Arsenal in the final few weeks of the current Premier League campaign, however. There are several further challenging tests on the horizon. Here are the biggest tests remaining throughout the latter weeks of the campaign.
Manchester City, Chelsea, and Newcastle United All Still Remain
As mentioned, the biggest test remaining for the Gunners is a trip to the Etihad for a title showdown against their closest rivals. However, barely a week later, they will battle Chelsea at the Emirates. Admittedly The Blues have been in dire form this season, however, they will be highly motivated to turn up to North London and ruin Arsenal’s campaign.
Then, just a few days on from that test, Arteta’s men will have to travel to St. James’ Park to face Champions League-chasing Newcastle United. Last season, they faced the Magpies at a similar stage of the campaign, and it was Eddie Howe’s men that managed to get the victory, all but ending Arsenal’s hopes of dining at European football’s most elite of dinner tables for the first time since the days of Arsene Wenger. The club will be hoping that history doesn’t repeat itself this term.
It doesn’t get any easier for Bukayo Saka and co. as he and his teammates will have to face in-form Brighton at the Emirates following the trip to Tyneside. The Seagulls have been one of the Premier League’s surprise packages this season and have earned plenty of plaudits as the campaign has progressed. There will be no pushovers.
Following that Nottingham Forest await in the penultimate game of the season before a clash against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux on the final day.
Comparison with the 2001/02 Campaign
Arsenal’s last team as champions was the Invincibles of 2004. By the time the Gunners had six games remaining that campaign, however, they were pretty much already crowned champions. They thumped Leeds United 5-0 at Highbury before securing the title at White Hart Lane the following week with a 2-2 draw.
The same couldn’t be said two years prior, however. Heading into the final weeks of that season, Arsenal and Manchester United were going head-to-head for the title, just as the Gunners are with City this season. And once again in the campaign’s latter stages, the two title protagonists would square off.
Heading into April that year, The Gunners were on a 15-game unbeaten run that stretched all the way back to December. They had won their last seven on the spin and had introduced themselves as the favorites in the title race. That tag was solidified when Arsene Wenger’s men beat Tottenham in the North London Derby at Highbury courtesy of a late winner from full-back Lauren.
Back-to-back nailbiters on home turf would follow. First Ipswich Town visited North London and as the game entered its final third, the sides were level at 0-0, however, a late double from Freddie Ljungberg would secure a massive three points. The following week West Ham would head across London, and the gunners had to wait until the 78th minute for Ljungberg to break the deadlock once again.
The Swedish winger would once again score in the 2-0 victory away at Bolton Wanderers meaning that the Gunners headed into their clash against Manchester United at Old Trafford in the penultimate game of the campaign knowing they would be crowned champions with a victory. That is exactly what happened courtesy of Sylvain Wiltord’s late winner, a goal and a moment that will never be forgotten. Whether history can repeat itself when Arsenal travel to the Etihad remains to be seen.
