Arsenal led 2-0, but they let Wolves equalize successfully. This result leaves the Gunners only 5 points ahead of Man City in the championship race (playing 1 more match). In the key stage of the season, Arsenal has continuously dropped points, because this is their 2nd consecutive draw.
If Man City wins all the remaining matches, they will win the league. It's disappointing with Arsenal's performance. They played carelessly. If Arsenal played at a high pace, Wolves could not catch up with them. But Arsenal played slowly, lacked concentration, and continuously lost the ball, giving the opponent a chance," expert Paul Merson shared with the British media.
According to this former player, Arsenal has lost their composure in the past two matches. They have not shown the necessary bravery in the sprint stage, losing points in a leading position even when facing two weaker opponents. This could very well lead to the "collapse" of the Gunners in the remainder of the season.
Paul Merson also expressed shock at the statement of Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta after the match. "Obviously, I am extremely disappointed with the results of the matches that ended. It is unacceptable that in the second half we did not show our form in any aspect of the match, did not meet the necessary standards to win a match in the Premier League and we paid the price," Arteta emphasized.
Before Arteta's negative tone, Paul Merson spoke up: "I was quite shocked by Arteta's interview. This is really the first time I have seen him not appear too positive. Usually he would say,'we did this, we did that'.
Meanwhile, expert Alan Smith believes that Arsenal's decline shows that they are having difficulty handling the pressure of the championship race and feel that Man City will confidently surpass them to win the title.
I feel this is a key moment, an important moment, perhaps a turning point for the whole season. People have talked a lot about Arsenal being the best team, the strongest squad in the league. But that doesn't mean anything if you don't have the calmness and ability to play well to achieve results under pressure. The word'courage' will be mentioned a lot in the next few days.
Everyone wait and see. Clearly, everything is now in Man City's hands. With their experience, Guardiola's, Man City has the belief to reverse the situation. Clearly, this weekend's match is very important to Man City, but they can clearly feel Arsenal's tension in the match against Wolves.
This weekend, Arsenal will have a North London derby with Tottenham, while Man City will have a match against Newcastle.
