Alright guys, let’s be real for a second. When you look at the Premier League table
right now, something feels… off, right? Like, Arsenal are sitting there in second place, breathing down Liverpool’s neck, and yet half the fanbase is already mentally preparing for another “almost but not quite” finish. But here’s what I’ve been asking myself lately—can Mikel Arteta’s
side actually pull this off, or is the title race
basically wrapped up before Christmas even hits?You might be wondering why I’m even questioning this. I mean, Arsenal
have the best defensive record
in the league, William Saliba
looks like he’s been playing top-flight football for a decade, and Declan Rice
has somehow gotten even better than last season. The xG stats
and expected goals
metrics love them. But—and this is a big but—there’s something about their attack
that keeps me up at night.A lot of fans ask me about the Bukayo Saka
injury situation and whether Gabriel Martinelli
can step up consistently. Let’s look at some numbers, because I think that tells part of the story:
| Category | Arsenal | Liverpool | Man City |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goals Scored | 34 | 39 | 36 |
| Goals Conceded | 14 | 16 | 18 |
| Big Chances Created | 42 | 48 | 45 |
| Points from Losing Positions | 8 | 14 | 11 |
From my view, that last stat is the killer. Points from losing positions
—that’s where championships are won or lost. Arsenal have only turned around 8 points when they’ve gone behind, while Liverpool
under Arne Slot
have grabbed 14. That’s mentality, guys. That’s the difference between title contenders
and also-rans.So what does this mean for the tour? Well, the Christmas fixtures
are brutal this year. Arsenal face West Ham
, then Brighton
, then a tricky trip to Brentford
right before New Year’s. If they drop points in two of those? The gap could be insurmountable by January. And here’s what I think about their squad depth—it’s better than last season, sure, but is it Manchester City
level? Not quite.Most people don’t notice how much Arsenal rely on set pieces
. I mean, seriously, check the Premier League stats
—they’ve scored 12 goals from corners and free-kicks this season. That’s great, but what happens when teams start… I don’t know, marking better? When the VAR decisions
don’t go their way on those marginal offside calls
?Now, let me ask myself something—am I being too harsh here? Arteta has transformed this club. Three years ago they were finishing eighth. Now we’re debating whether they can dethrone Pep Guardiola
and Liverpool’s new dynasty
. That’s progress. But progress doesn’t win you trophies
, does it?Keep reading if you want my honest prediction. I think Arsenal finish second again. Unless—unless—they somehow find a January signing
that changes everything. A proper striker
, maybe? Eddie Nketiah
did well but left, and now Kai Havertz
is playing that false nine role which… works sometimes? But against the low block
of teams like Everton
or Crystal Palace
, you need a killer. A finisher
.The Champions League
distraction is real too. Arteta talks about competing on all fronts, but every midweek European fixture
takes something out of the legs. I watched the PSV Eindhoven
match last week—Arsenal won, yeah, but they looked leggy. Gabriel Jesus
was limping again. These small things add up.From my view, though, there’s one thing that could flip the script. Ethan Nwaneri
. The 17-year-old. If Arteta trusts him in big Premier League moments
, he could be the wildcard. The youth academy
product with no fear. We saw Bellingham
do it at Dortmund
, right? Why not here?But let’s be real one more time. The betting odds
have Arsenal at 4/1 to win the league now. Liverpool
are favorites at 6/5. Those numbers don’t lie—bookmakers
watch every training session, every injury report
, every tactical tweak
. They know something.So can Arsenal win it? Yes. The defensive structure
is elite, the midfield press
is suffocating, and Arteta’s tactics
have evolved. But will they? I’m not convinced. Not unless something changes in that final third
. Not unless Havertz
or Martinelli
or someone starts converting those half-chances
into match-winners
.What does this mean for the fans? Honestly, it means another rollercoaster. Another season of “what ifs” and VAR controversies
and title charge
hopes that might fade by March. But hey, that’s Arsenal, isn’t it? That’s the Premier League drama
we signed up for.