In the wake of Arsenal’s 2-1 defeat to rivals Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, a strange narrative began to emerge.
The league leaders might have suffered a damaging six-point swing in the title race, but in the eyes of some pundits, there was a lot of reason for hope.
Rather than being routed, which let’s be honest, should have been a highly unlikely outcome, the Gunners had created some chances and only lost by a single goal.
Though on the back foot, Mikel Arteta’s team still had missed chances.
“Arsenal played well today. They couldn’t come here and freeze, and didn’t,” said ex-Manchester United defender Gary Neville on Sky Sports.
“They were much better in terms of energy, playing more on the front foot, creating chances, and they were much better than they have been, but they just fell short,” added Alan Shearer on CBS.
Tim Sherwood argued that City’s defeat relieved pressure on Arsenal.
“I was impressed with Arsenal yesterday, I thought they should have got a draw out of the game.
“I still think Arsenal are going to win it. I just think there are enough dropped points there, tough games, I think Manchester City have got the tougher run-in, I really do.
“Now the pressure’s off. It’s like a boxing match where you know it’s lost. You’re winning on points and you need to start throwing haymakers and I think that’s what Arsenal need to do now.
“I think the pressure of being up there has taken its toll; it took its toll on a couple of occasions now. They’ve finished runners-up on three occasions.
It’s absurd that the league’s dominant team calls this result progress.
The bar should be set far higher than that. Victory, or even a tie, would have put Arsenal in an unassailable position in the table.
Although their destiny is in their hands, it’s disappointing that the team aiming to be champions wouldn’t aim higher.
The pundits were comparing these performances to previous years when Arsenal had visited Manchester and been obliterated, or to the recent Carabao Cup final, when they looked lifeless after the first 20 minutes.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta’s spin was that the Gunners showed strength of character in this glorious defeat.
“We had a really strong performance, got so much into the game, we came back from a goal down,” he said.
“Emotionally, we handled the game so well, and had the game where we wanted it. We had the best chances of the game, didn’t put them away, and that was the difference.”
“We lost an opportunity today to win, I think we used the opportunity to show what we are made of, and how we’re going to compete and the level of the team.”
Unlike recent history, most of Arsenal’s players have been in a title race for the past three seasons.
Manchester City has replaced most of its team. Only three players who started the game could be considered serial contenders; the crucial difference is that those few know what it takes to get over the line.
It was a point identified by a man who knows about bringing titles to North London, former Arsenal captain Patrick Viera.
“[Arsenal] had a good performance but the difference between good and great teams are the teams who are not used to winning and the ones who compete at this level all the time,” he said.
“You can see the difference today on the field and those top players made a difference today.”
If Mikel Arteta wanted to advance his side’s interests by making a controversial but largely accurate observation about what defines title-winning teams, he would assert that eventual champions are, above all, the most consistent side.
While eye-catching statements win against rivals and grab headlines, the reality is they don’t deliver silverware.
The reason Manchester City trails Arsenal in the title race is not their form against the league’s strongest teams.
The Citizens across their 10 Premier League fixtures against traditional top-six rivals have secured 18 points from a possible 30; only Manchester United (19 points) has a slightly better points haul.
Amongst those victories have been home and away triumphs against Liverpool and four points earned against the Gunners.
Disappointing draws in games against Nottingham Forest, West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur, all from winning positions, is what put them off the pace in the title race.
Arsenal still has the advantage with an easier set of fixtures to end the season and at a marginally better goal difference.
But everyone would prefer to see Arsenal act like true champions, not settle for excuses that mask their underachievement.
