The phrase Arsenal bottle the league is back in circulation. After blowing a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 against bottom-of-the-table Wolves, Arsenal missed a golden opportunity to go seven points clear at the top of the Premier League table. Instead, they sit five points ahead of Manchester City, and that gap could shrink to just two if City win their game in hand.
The uncomfortable but familiar question now dominating the headlines is: will Arsenal bottle the league again?
Wolves Draw Changes Everything
The 2-2 draw at Molineux was not just two dropped points. It was psychological fuel for critics who believe Arsenal bottle the league whenever pressure intensifies.
Mikel Arteta admitted after the match that inconsistency has crept in. They have struggled for sustained dominance in recent weeks, and the Wolves result revived memories of previous run-in collapses.
If Manchester City win their outstanding fixture, the title race becomes razor-thin. Five points feels comfortable. Two points feels very fragile.
The concern is not only about Arsenal’s position. It is about momentum. And in Premier League history, momentum has often decided who become champions.
Comparing Remaining Fixtures: Arsenal vs Man City
To properly assess whether Arsenal will bottle the league, fixture difficulty must be examined.
Arsenal’s remaining schedule includes multiple high-pressure encounters against top-half sides fighting for European places. Trips away from the Emirates and matches against teams battling relegation create classic trap-game scenarios. The Gunners still have tough London derbies against local rivals Tottenham and Chelsea still to come, as well as a trip to the Etihad in April. Previous occurrences tend to show that Arsenal drop more points against teams outside the big six with the likes of Everton, Bournemouth, and Newcastle still to play for the Gunners
Manchester City, meanwhile, traditionally thrive in the final stretch. Pep Guardiola’s side historically close seasons with relentless winning runs. Their remaining fixtures, while not easy, include several home games at the Etihad where City’s record in title run-ins has been dominant. Guardiola would however need to establish consistency in his side if they are to topple the Gunners this season. The Citizens have Newcastle, Everton, Chelsea, and Bournemouth to face among other fixtures.
While there are no easy fixtures in the Premier League, the critical difference for both side will lie in experience. Manchester City have overturned deficits before. Arsenal, in contrast, have finished second in three consecutive seasons and have previously seen commanding leads evaporate.
If the Gunners bottle the league this season, it will not be because of one Wolves draw. It will be because of how they handle these remaining fixtures under sustained pressure.
History Offers Warning Signs for Arsenal
The Premier League has witnessed dramatic collapses before. Newcastle surrendered a 12-point lead in 1995-96 under Kevin Keegan. Manchester United threw away control in 2011-12 before Sergio Aguero’s last-gasp winner sealed City’s triumph. Liverpool’s 2013-14 collapse, symbolized by Steven Gerrard’s slip, remains one of the most painful in modern football.
Arsenal themselves feature in that catalogue. In 2002-03 they lost an eight-point advantage. In 2022-23, they were eight points clear before Manchester City reeled them in.
If Arsenal bottle the league again, they risk entering the conversation as one of the most persistent nearly-men in Premier League history.
Four consecutive second-place finishes would redefine their era under Arteta.
The Mental Battle Ahead
Title races are rarely decided purely by talent. They are decided by mentality.
Manchester City have built a culture of inevitability in April and May. Arsenal are still trying to prove they can sustain control when the pressure peaks.
The Wolves draw has intensified scrutiny. Dropping points to the league’s bottom side while leading 2-0 is precisely the kind of slip that magnifies doubt. The word “bottlers” thrives in moments like this.
Yet Arsenal remain top. They control their destiny. If they win out, the title is theirs.
The issue is that Manchester City are capable of doing exactly the same.
Verdict on the Run-In
The narrative that Arsenal bottle the league will only disappear if they finish the job.
Fixture difficulty suggests both teams face tests. City’s experience gives them an edge in managing tension. Arsenal’s hunger and growth under Arteta offer counterbalance.
What separates this season from previous collapses is that Arsenal are no longer naive contenders. They have been here before. They understand the weight of expectation.
The Wolves draw reopened wounds. It did not yet end the race.
Whether Arteta’s side bottle the league again will depend on composure, squad depth, and their ability to treat every remaining match like a final.
The next few weeks will determine whether this becomes redemption or another painful chapter in Arsenal’s Premier League history.
