After taking just two points from a possible nine in the Premier League, unease is starting to creep in at the Emirates. Instead of building an unassailable lead at the top of the Premier League, Arsenal’s advantage has been trimmed back to just four points, making the margin for further error rather thin.
This is a familiar danger zone for the Gunners. A side that has finished second in each of the last three seasons knows how costly a wobble can be. As pressure builds and memories linger, the question is not just about quality in the squad, but whether Arsenal can hold their nerve when it matters most.
So, are Arsenal going to blow their title chances again, or will this be the year they end their long wait for more Premier League success?
Recent Setbacks Highlight Lack of Firepower
Across their last three league matches, the Gunners have scored just two goals, both against Manchester United. One came from a messy scramble following a corner, the other an own goal. Recent matches have cried out for someone with a clinical touch to step up and make a difference, but Arsenal have nobody they can turn to when in desperate need of a goal. As we can see, none of Arsenal’s players has exactly filled his boots this term.
| Player | Premier League Goals (excluding penalties) |
|---|---|
| Leandro Trossard | 5 |
| Own Goals | 4 |
| Ebere Eze | 4 |
| Mikel Merino | 4 |
| Declan Rice | 4 |
| Viktor Gyokeres | 3 |
| Bukayo Saka | 3 |
| Gabriel | 3 |
| Martin Zubimendi | 3 |
On the one hand, it is encouraging that the Gunners have goals from so many different sources. However, the issue is that there are no reliable sources of goals. The fact that Trossard is the only player to outscore own goals (when excluding penalties) is a bit of a concern. It was hoped at the start of the campaign that £63.5m signing Gyokeres would be a source of 15+ league goals a season, but he has never looked like fulfilling his price tag.
You then have the highly regarded Bukayo Saka, who found the net 30 times in the league across 2022/23 and 2023/24, but who has this season carried very little scoring threat. So much so, in fact, that he has been singled out in recent weeks for his lack of contributions. Perhaps the imminent return of Kai Havertz can improve the situation for Arsenal, though. By no means an abundant source of goals, his solid record could at least prove decisive at this stage of the season.
Gunners Still Solid Favourites
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) January 27, 2026
As much as Arsenal could do with a lethal goalscorer in their ranks, a lack of one should not prevent them from claiming the Premier League title. With a four-point advantage and a couple of easier-looking fixtures coming up, there are reasons to think Arsenal can establish some sense of control in this title race.
It is also important to consider that their recent slump was not that bad, in the grand scheme of things. First, a boring draw with a Liverpool side who regularly show up when playing Arsenal. Next was complete domination over Nottingham Forest. The Gunners had more than enough chances to win the games by a couple of goals, but sloppy finishing let them down. Most recently, there was a defeat to a rejuvenated Man United side that had been boosted from their convincing win over Man City.
Yes, Mikel Arteta would have been expecting more than two points from these three fixtures but it is not as though his players have been outplayed by mid-table sides. So long as the Arsenal defence stays as solid as it has been for the rest of this season, better results should return very soon.
Arsenal Can Afford More Slip Ups
Even if this Arsenal are losing their nerve and more dropped points are to follow, there still has to be a team to capitalise on their shortcomings. Both Man City and Aston Villa sit four points behind, but neither looks like stringing together the kinds of results that will see them overtake Arsenal anytime soon. City have won just one of their last five league clashes, and Erling Haaland is currently suffering from a goal drought that has seen him register just one penalty goal in six league matches.
Villa, meanwhile, just do not quite seem like title material. They have done extremely well to be in the mix at this stage, but you wonder if they have the required squad depth to sustain a challenge. Their underlying numbers also suggest that they will not continue at this level for the remainder of the season. Whereas Arsenal have 49.78 expected points, and City have 43.68, Villa have a mere 28.32. Perhaps they will keep defying the numbers, but there is a reason you can back them at odds of 16/1 for the title.
Conclusion
The last three league games have not gone Arsenal’s way but it is too early to suggest they have gone into bottle mode. After all, either side of the draw with Forest they beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the League Cup and Inter Milan away in the Champions League. Life would be easier if they had a goalscoring machine, or two, but even without that luxury, the Gunners have enough quality to get back on track.