After the arduous match with Manchester City, coach Mikel Arteta gave Arsenal players 2 days off. This is a necessary decision to help the whole team recover, although in fact this plan was made in advance.
The mood in Arsenal's dressing room was not as bad as many people thought. After the match, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard both clearly expressed their views that the result was "unacceptable".
Ironically, the 1-2 defeat brings a certain encouragement, because Arsenal's performance is rated much higher than their victory in 2026. The Gunners players believe they did not deserve to lose the match.
Arteta is trying to revive the team's spirit after a stumble against direct competitor Man City. The current atmosphere in the team is quite special, as long-time leaders are trying to gather forces for the final stretch. The coaching staff can see this as an inevitable consequence in the context of some key attacking players returning, although Bukayo Saka has not yet been able to participate.
The general feeling is that the worst thing happened, but not in the most negative way. Arsenal did not collapse, did not break down. On the contrary, they showed a positive response - a factor that could be a turning point in the remainder of the season.
For many months, the Emirates Stadium team has seemed to always live in fear of losing the advantage, about the possibility of collapse or giving up. Now, when that scenario has happened, the pressure has somewhat decreased, giving way to another form of pressure.
Arteta emphasized that the championship is still within reach. Team psychology has changed, accompanied by new belief in the playing style. If these arguments are optimistic, modern football history has proven the same. And a typical example is Man City.
In the 2011-2012 season, this team faced the risk of losing the championship after a series of disappointing results. They were 8 points behind Manchester United, after a 0-1 defeat to Arsenal - a match in which Arteta himself scored the decisive goal.
Although internal conflicts once occurred, typically conflicts between Vincent Kompany and Mario Balotelli, that turned into a turning point. When the worst happened, Man City regained balance.
They won 6 consecutive matches, scoring a total of 10 goals in just the next 2 matches, before closing the season with a historic moment with Sergio Aguero's goal.
The important factor at that time was the return of Carlos Tevez, contributing to changing the situation and morale of the whole team. Arsenal can also expect the same.
Martin Odegaard has returned, and Saka is likely to reappear in the near future. If combined with Kai Havertz, this will be the first time this trio has played side by side since December 2024. This was once a trio that contributed greatly to 91 goals in the 2023-2024 season, and their absence is the reason Arsenal is declining. Just two stars of them returning, the change has begun to be clearly shown in the playing style.
Odegaard especially impressed with his connecting role, helping the system operate more smoothly. When Saka returns, this influence promises to be even greater. In the future, pressure remains. Arsenal must win to maintain hope, in the context that Man City is predicted to continue to accumulate points.
The dense schedule prevents the race from taking place at a high pace, but psychological factors may play a decisive role. "The Gunners" will face Newcastle and Fulham in turn, while Man City is still tied to the FA Cup schedule.
The two teams also face their own challenges. Man City has to divide forces for many arenas, while Arsenal is facing a tense Champions League semi-final match with Atletico Madrid. Results in Europe can strongly impact morale. A defeat will lead to great pressure, but if they advance, Arsenal can explode emotionally and energetically.
In that context, the 2-day break becomes particularly important. Arteta seems to be adjusting his approach, reducing the intensity of training to better suit the crucial stage.
With the current developments, the possibility of both Arsenal and Man City winning the rest is not high. This makes the championship race more unpredictable and dramatic than ever.
