Chelsea collapse opens Arsenal a dangerous door

Being last up on the fixture list can be a blessing or otherwise depending on the individual. Arsenal can watch the rest of the league more freely, just as their rivals could pile the pressure on them ahead of Monday’s fixture.

Heading into this matchweek, the results that Arsenal were concerning themselves with were Manchester United and Tottenham. Not Chelsea.

The Crystal Palace game is a chance for Mikel Arteta‘s side to maintain their light grip on the top four places, with that precious fourth spot the one and only goal remaining for the rest of the season. Get it and this project will have truly gone ‘bang’.

But. The unavoidable ‘but’.

Stunning Chelsea collapse against Brentford opens Arsenal a dangerous door into third, one they need to avoid

Away from matters at Old Trafford and in north London, something rather remarkable happened in the west of the capital. Brentford, embarking on their first ever Premier League adventure, outclassed Chelsea 4-1 having even come from behind in the game with 40 minutes left.

Another Christian Eriksen masterclass – you can’t help but be overjoyed for the man’s incredible comeback – helped the visitors beat the Blues for the first time since 1939. A result that has nothing to do with Arsenal, right?

This is where it enters dangerous territory. Nobody can afford to get ahead of themselves, so one mustn’t allow it to happen.

Chelsea’s shock home defeat leaves them on 59 points with 29 matches played. Arsenal trail that tally by five points, but can reduce it to just two with the same amount of matches played if they beat Palace on Monday. An inviting door has been opened for Arsenal.

Or has there?

While on the one hand it’s always positive to be looking up and not down, it should be the case that whatever Chelsea does is incurious to Arsenal. Fourth is what matters, not third, and allowing the mind to wander may cease only to be to one’s detriment if for whatever reason Arsenal don’t pull through. This is where complacency can rear its ugly head.

To hell with what Chelsea do. Arsenal shouldn’t care.

If it ends up that Arteta’s side head to Stamford Bridge and a win sees them leapfrog them in the table it would be marvelous. Massively so. But more marvelous in the sense that it keeps Arsenal firmly in the hunt for Champions League football. That is the aim.

Focus has to be on the Arsenal garden. Not their neighbours’, one which has plenty of beautiful and expensive water features but still suffers from a weed problem.

There needs to be unequivocal tunnel vision for these final ten games. No looking left and no looking right, even if what’s happening just around the corner is side-splittingly funny. Don’t look up before you’ve even sat down.