Arsenal under pressure as English Premier League title race heats up

LONDON – Arsenal enter this English Premier League weekend clinging to just a four-point lead at the summit, with their advantage reduced after

a damaging 3-2 home defeat by Manchester United on Jan 25

that has raised all-too-familiar fears.

That loss, combined with recent goal-less draws against Nottingham Forest and Liverpool, has allowed both Manchester City and Aston Villa to close in during a critical stretch of the campaign, leading to questions about whether Mikel Arteta’s perennial runners-up might be headed for another collapse.

The Gunners travel to Elland Road on Jan 31 to face a Leeds United side who have steadily strengthened their survival credentials. They sit 16th but have suffered only two home league defeats all season and are unbeaten in their last five home matches, scoring in 10 of 11 games on their own turf.

Arsenal, meanwhile, arrive on a three-match winless league run. Their away record has broadly been strong this season, but only two of their last six league matches on the road have been victories. With their lead narrowing, Arteta knows his side cannot afford another slip.

“(This week is) just understanding where you are,” he said.

“Certainly when you lose a game you have a lot of feelings, because especially this group of players are so competitive and they seek excellence, and when you don’t reach it you ask yourself questions, and we did that. I think my role as well is to bring optimism and reality of where we are.

“We are doing so many things so well, and for sure we want to improve, we want to be better in every area. When we are doing so well, I’m there with a stick to say this is not good enough, this is not good enough.

“The demands that we put on those players every day, and they need to understand and feel that we are right behind them, I’m mainly responsible for that.”

Arteta also confirmed that William Saliba and Jurrien Timber are both set to return following injuries, with Kai Havertz also “ready” to face Leeds.

In another match, Liverpool welcome Newcastle United to Anfield on the same day in a fixture that carries weight for their Champions League ambitions.

Arne Slot’s men are looking to strengthen their position near the top four after a 3-2 loss at Bournemouth on Jan 24 left them sixth and ended a 13-match unbeaten run in all competitions.

The Reds thrashed Qarabag 6-0 on Jan 28

to secure a last-16 Champions League spot, and Slot said that his team needed to show the same form domestically.

His team are two points behind fourth-placed United, while Newcastle are ninth, five points off the top four.

“Every game is crucial but the way we have positioned ourselves now makes every game crucial because top four is what we want to achieve,” said the Dutchman.

“We have experienced how tough it is against Newcastle. One to look forward to because we both had a good result in the week and a home game at Anfield is always something to look forward to.

“We already thought every single period was pivotal, that hasn’t changed but the closer you come to the end, the less opportunities you have to make a mistake and now we cannot afford a lot of mistakes any more.”

A rejuvenated United host Fulham at Old Trafford on Feb 1, aiming to extend their impressive unbeaten league run to seven matches. 

Michael Carrick has made a perfect start as the Red Devils’ interim manager, delivering back-to-back statement victories over City and Arsenal, lifting United firmly into the top-four battle. 

Fulham, however, arrive in strong form themselves, with Marco Silva’s side sitting seventh in the table and having lost just once in their last eight league fixtures. REUTERS