And then it was gone. Just over three weeks ago, Arsenal beat Manchester United with a last-minute goal to take an eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League. Arsenal has not won since, and, with a 3–1 win at the Emirates, Manchester City went top of the Premier League table Wednesday.
City is first only on goal difference, and Arsenal has a game in hand, but a run of four games without a win, including one point from three league games suggests a team beginning to stutter. Arsenal was probably the better side in the first half, but it paid for a lack of incisiveness in front of goal and, ultimately, was undone by two moments of sloppiness at the back.
All the momentum that was behind its title charge in the first half of the season now seems against it, even if City is still far from its best. It’s true that the title is still in Arsenal’s hands, but given it has to go to City in April, that may not mean too much. Nor, in the past four games, has there been anything to suggest Arsenal is likely suddenly to embark on a long winning run. Its fans may point to the Brentford equalizer Saturday that was clearly offside, but Brentford in truth created more than enough chances to have won the game, never mind drawing it. A spark has gone out of its play.
