Arsenal were in excellent form throughout 2024, but their campaign has been derailed in less than a week.
This time last week, Mikel Arteta’s side were on top of the Premier League, and had everything to play for in the Champions League quarter-finals, with a near fully-fit squad seemingly ready for the run-in.
However, they since suffered a shock 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Unai Emery’s Aston Villa, and were knocked out of Europe after a disappointing 1-0 loss to Bayern Munich.
Arsenal’s defeat to Villa was damaging as it saw Manchester City take top spot in the title race, but one consolation is that Liverpool still remain below the Gunners on goal difference, having lost at home to Crystal Palace earlier last Sunday.
Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold has now claimed that his side’s defeat before Arsenal faced Villa may have played a part in what was a disappointing late collapse at the Emirates.
Liverpool loss to Crystal Palace may have affected Arsenal negatively
Speaking to Sky Sports, the right-back claimed that Arsenal may have lost a bit of their own composure as they smelled blood following Liverpool’s defeat just before their own kick-off against Aston Villa.
“If those fixtures were reversed and we played second and Arsenal played first maybe it would’ve been a different mentality,” he stated of the two defeats suffered by Liverpool and Arsenal last Sunday.
“It all comes down to mentality. I think our result played a part in Arsenal’s result. They have potentially got too excited and thought this is our chance, this is what we need to do.
“Maybe they overthought things whereas if us and City both won it made them think, ‘we need to just win’ rather than it being a chance to breakaway from the pack. None of us have been in a three-horse race, so it’s difficult.”
Arsenal and Liverpool lose ground to Man City in title race
The last thing either Arteta or Jurgen Klopp would have wanted was for their sides to shoot themselves in the foot with poor home defeats to allow Man City to regain top spot.
Given City’s experience as winners of the last three titles in a row, losing the advantage over them could be a fatal blow for both Arsenal and Liverpool in the race.
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City demolished Luton a day before Arsenal and Liverpool played, with Pep Guardiola’s side moving top, but with an extra game played, and this may have put extra pressure on Liverpool before their match against Crystal Palace.
Liverpool’s defeat may have then caused Arsenal to overthink their game against Villa as a chance to put distance between themselves and Klopp’s side, and this may simply show that the side playing first on each game week, has the advantage of being able to focus on their own result rather than others.
