Arsenal are now just four points clear at the top of the Premier League table heading into the final seven games of the season. Manchester City have closed the gap to the Gunners following draws against Liverpool at Anfield and West Ham at the London Stadium in recent weeks.
Mikel Arteta has watched his side throw away a 2-0 lead in back-to-back matches with Jamie Carragher putting the results down to 'complacency' and Arsenal being 'cocky'. Roy Keane agreed with Carragher and believes a lack of composure in the squad is allowing City the chance to win a fifth title in six years.
The pressure on Arsenal continues to grow week after week with a huge game against relegation-threatened Southampton up next for the north Londoners. Arsenal could take a seven-point lead at the top of the table into their potential title-deciding clash against Pep Guardiola's side at the Etihad Stadium next week if they beat the Saints - with City involved in FA Cup action which will give them two games in hand on the Gunners.
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Injuries have hampered Arteta's ability to rotate the squad with William Saliba and Oleksandr Zinchenko both dealing with problems in recent weeks. Saliba has been spotted in the gym this week whilst Zinchenko was left out of the 2-2 draw against the Hammers as a 'precaution' and could return to the matchday squad to face Southampton.
Speaking to Legal Sportsbooks, Arsenal icon Emmanuel Petit believes Arteta has been at fault for recent results against Liverpool and West Ham. Petit said: “Recently yes.
"I think it was the same against Liverpool. He took some time to make substitutions and some players should have been involved earlier.
"The likes of Trossard for example, who I think has been brilliant since he signed for Arsenal. He has his first XI in his mind and he wants to stay with them until the end because he thinks they have been unbelievable since the beginning of the season.
"He’s probably thinking, ‘Why should I change them?’ Because they were winning game after game? I can understand, but in the meantime, as he’s such a young manager, maybe he has to learn as well from that."
Trossard's impact for Arsenal since signing from Brighton has been brilliant, but given the form of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus, it has left the Belgian forward having to contribute from the bench. Arteta may look to rotate his team on Friday night against Southampton, but with Arsenal only focusing on the Premier League title race after being knocked out of every cup competition - it gives the Gunners a longer period of rest and recovery between games compared to City.
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