Its hard to play football after you have shot yourself in the foot. Arsenal have gone from title favourites to a team clinging on. Manchester City are now sensing blood in the race and will probably move in for the kill.They are good at that.
The defeat to AFC Bournemouth isn’t just three dropped points .It has opened the door for Manchester City in a way that felt unlikely a few days ago.
With last season’s collapse in the background a result like this can just destroy all the self belief that Arteta had created in the team.They got beaten at home.By a team thats 9 places below them in the table.There’s no more margin for error. History has a horrible way of repeating itself .
HISTORY
1998–99 – Lost the title late to Manchester United despite being right there
2002–03 – Led for long stretches, then collapsed late
2004–05 – Strong defence of the Invincibles season but finished 2nd
2022–23 – Led most of the season, then fell away to Manchester City
2023–24 – Pushed City to the end, finished just short
Highlights of the Bournemouth disaster…