After 26 rounds of the Premier League, Arsenal leads by 4 points; in the same period of the 2022-23 season, Arsenal led by 5 points but lost the title.

This week sees midweek Premier League games and FA Cup fixtures on the weekend. After 26 rounds, Arsenal's lead decreased from 6 points to 4 points after drawing 1-1 away at Brentford. This is a dangerous gap because Arsenal had a similar experience in the 2022-23 season, leading Manchester City by 5 points at this stage. Starting from round 30, Arsenal collapsed, going four games without a win, including a heavy 1-4 defeat to Manchester City. Meanwhile, Manchester City was nearly unbeaten, drawing only once before clinching the title. Their 0-1 loss to Brentford in the final round came after they had already secured the championship, fielding a rotated squad.

This means that February and March will be crucial months for Arsenal’s chances of winning the Premier League this season. Arteta is a capable coach, but he struggles with managing multiple competitions and squad rotation. February and March are key periods for top teams competing in the Champions League knockout stages. Can Arsenal maintain their huge advantage of eight consecutive league wins? If Arteta applies a rotation strategy for both the Premier League and Champions League, it could backfire like Inter Milan last season, who aimed for all trophies but ended up empty-handed. Arteta faces the same challenge as Inzaghi did last season: while the Champions League is a top priority, the Premier League title remains Arsenal’s main goal. It will depend on how Arteta manages his players and lineup.

It is often said that failure is the mother of success. Arsenal has suffered three consecutive runner-up finishes in the league, especially in the 2022-23 season when they led by 5 points after 26 rounds but lost the title to Manchester City. Perhaps Manchester City is less consistent than in previous seasons, but Arsenal has a tendency to falter at critical moments. Maybe Arsenal has ample experience chasing titles, while Manchester City has extensive experience winning them. Arsenal’s last Premier League title dates back to the distant year of 2004—so far back that many fans have forgotten what it looked like!