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Arsenal fans, why does it feel like we've been here before? Well, that's because we have, and this looming sense of late season déjà vu appears to be engulfing everyone. Last weekend, the Gunners' gap at the top of the table was slashed to six points, given that they were beaten 2-1 by Bournemouth and then Manchester City steamrollered Chelsea 3-0. The vibes are certainly not good ahead of next Sunday's crucial clash at the Etihad, especially considering it's being played in April.
Having also been dumped out of the FA Cup by Southampton during Easter weekend, the Gunners' horrendous record in April under Mikel Arteta continued.
Arsenal results by month under Mikel Arteta
Month | Wins | Draws | Loses | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
January | 23 | 13 | 8 | 52% |
February | 21 | 6 | 9 | 58% |
March | 21 | 8 | 3 | 66% |
April | 15 | 9 | 12 | 42% |
May | 16 | 2 | 6 | 67% |
June | 2 | 0 | 2 | 50% |
July | 5 | 1 | 2 | 63% |
August | 13 | 4 | 4 | 62% |
September | 21 | 4 | 2 | 78% |
October | 26 | 6 | 5 | 70% |
November | 19 | 4 | 8 | 61% |
December | 25 | 7 | 11 | 58% |
Total | 207 | 64 | 72 | 60% |
Note: Statistics courtesy of Tom Ede.
April is, by some distance, Arsenal's worst-performing month under Mikel Arteta, with almost 17% of all the defeats he has suffered coming during this one month. The Gunners' 42% win ratio in April is alarmingly bad, while their best comes in September and October, which is not a surprise.
Teams to beat Arsenal in recent Aprils
April 2026: Bournemouth & Southampton (FA Cup).
April 2025: Paris Saint-Germain (Champions League).
April 2024: Aston Villa & Bayern Munich (Champions League).
April 2023: Manchester City.
April 2022: Crystal Palace, Brighton & Southampton.
April 2021: Liverpool, Everton & Villarreal (Europa League).
In each of the last six Aprils, Arsenal have suffered damaging defeats that they've not recovered from. Villarreal, Bayern Munich and PSG have all ousted them from European competition, while they missed out on top four in 2022, saw their title aspirations shattered a year later and lost their only Premier League game after New Year's Eve of 2023/24 against Aston Villa.
So, will history repeat itself? Well, on Wednesday, the Gunners will seek to reach the Champions League semi-finals for only the fourth time in the club's entire history, after 2006, 2009 and last season. Kai Havertz's stoppage time winner at Estádio José Alvalade makes them firm favourites to oust Sporting and set up a date with, probably, Atlético Madrid, but do not write off Rui Borges' team.
Then, on Sunday, the Premier League's top two clash at the Etihad, both currently with their destiny in their own hands. One feels as though, should Manchester City prevail, they will go on and surpass Arsenal in the table, making it of paramount importance that the Gunners get a result of some kind.
Arteta's team have not lost back-to-back league games since 31 December 2023, a whopping 835 days ago, but the April curse could strike again and shatter Gooners' dreams once more.