Pathetic Arsenal will struggle to get top six

Crystal Palace, Brighton and Southampton. No points. Just one goal, and it was deflected. Arsenal are a mess.

When the final furlong of the season was laid out in front of Arsenal, the supposed ‘easy part’ was meant to come first. On this trajectory there won’t be another win all season long.

It’s not fun use words like ‘pathetic’. There is no sick enjoyment drawn from it. But when you lose to three sides who were coming into these games without a win at home in 2022, and off the back of seven and six straight defeats respectively, there is no kinder way of putting it. Arsenal didn’t just lose those games; they gift wrapped them, with a blank cheque on the side.

Arsenal were clinging onto hopes of a top four finish by their fingertips. Spurs’ improved form and back-to-back losses made sure of that. So to be handed a major opening courtesy of Brighton and to throw it away in such abject fashion all but ends top four hopes.

Pathetic Arsenal will struggle to get top six as defeat to Southampton in the Premier League throws European ambitions into doubt

That is what is most damning of all. Arsenal can still win their game in hand and be level on points with Tottenham. The Premier League table still has them well in the hunt for Champions League football. It’s the form table that everyone should be keeping focus on, however, because that has Arsenal slipping out of Europe entirely.

What is being produced is not conducive of European football. The tepid approach play, wayward finishing and defensive looseness is worsening. Arsenal aren’t conceding many chances but are still conceding goals, while at the other end aren’t converting the opportunities they’re carving out for themselves. The very fundamentals are faltering.

Mikel Arteta, who shares as much blame as anyone, is overseeing a team slipping down this table at a rapid rate. From being in a position of relative comfort, Arsenal are now nervously looking over their shoulders at Manchester United and West Ham – two teams they happen to face over the next three matches.

The other game in that run? Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. It is in no way reactionary to fear the worst. Arsenal going into May having lost six matches in succession is a dangerously conceivable outcome.

The level of performance is throwing European football as a whole at risk. Ignore what the table says, the eyes speak the truth. Arsenal are lacking in ideas, cutting edge and belief. Three components they couldn’t get enough of around the New Year are now three they couldn’t buy even with all cash in the KSE safe.

Stopping this rot is crucial for the future of this team beyond just next season. Continue in this vein and any credit left in the bank have have liquidated.

If Arteta and his team do not find a way, no one will.