Arsenal are ‘Christmas champions,’ but that may count for nothing

LIVERPOOL — Arsenal may be top of the Premier League again come Christmas, but Mikel Arteta’s team is starting to look like one of those toys whose batteries have a frustratingly short lifespan.

But they are at least durable. A week after working hard to win 2-1 at home to bottom side Wolverhampton Wanderers – Arsenal’s winner in that game was a stoppage-time own goal – the Gunners proved their stamina, mentally and physically, by sealing a 1-0 win at Everton on Saturday just hours after Manchester City knocked them out of top spot with an easy win over West Ham United.

A first-half Viktor Gyökeres penalty, awarded for a Jake O’Brien handball, was enough to secure all three points – Leandro Trossard and Martín Zubimendi both later fired against the post – but it was hard work rather than a victory built on stylish attacking football. The game suggests that Arsenal’s lack of flair and killer instinct threatens to become a trend.

Less than a month ago, Arsenal were six points clear at the top – and seven ahead of City – when an Eberechi Eze hat-trick laid the foundations for a 4-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates.

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At this point, Arteta’s side looked above the chasing pack and a procession to a first league title since 2004 was beginning to look inevitable, especially as City and reigning champions Liverpool made uncharacteristic stumbles.

But those title dreams are just a distant memory. Man City are back in Arsenal’s footsteps and if the Gunners are to finish the season as champions they will really have to earn it.

The positive side of Saturday’s win at Everton and last week’s win against Wolves is that Arsenal are winning despite performing below their usual level. This type of resilience is often the mark of champions.

But the more negative interpretation is that Arsenal are starting to feel the heat and their limitations are now showing, just as City are starting to look like their old self again under Pep Guardiola. Looking at the 90 minutes at Everton, it would appear to be the latter and that Arsenal have lost their early season momentum.

When they beat Spurs, Arsenal were coming off a 10-game winning streak in all competitions which ended in a 2-2 draw at Sunderland. Spurs’ victory had put Arteta’s side back on track, but they have since drawn at Chelsea and lost at Aston Villa, with wins over Wolves and Everton coming via two own goals and a penalty.

Convincing? Certainly not. But every team has to go through a tough patch in a season and if it’s Arsenal’s, they at least pick up enough points to stay clear of City and the rest of the chasing pack.

But history also weighs heavily on Arsenal’s shoulders, and it is this factor that will make or break their final title challenge.

So Arteta’s side won’t put too much stock in winning the Christmas top spot for the third time in four years. On the last two occasions they have dominated on December 25 – in 2023-24 and 2022-23 – Arsenal finished the season as runners-up behind City and Guardiola’s side have positioned themselves as their closest challenger this year with five wins in their last five league matches.

City have scored 11 goals and conceded none in their last four games, so their form looks worrying from an Arsenal perspective and if anyone has the Big Mo, it’s Guardiola’s serial winners.

That City went top for the first time in 14 months before the Arsenal game was just another psychological hurdle for the Gunners to clear, but they kept their cool and did just that against David Moyes’ committed but limited Everton.

“We’re not considering that,” Arteta said when asked about City’s victory, adding pressure on his side. “I know you guys are.

“The only thing we can control is our own performances and our results and we know how long it will last and how difficult this league is.

“THE [winning] the margin should have been bigger, but that’s what we have to do: learn, but keep winning.

“That’s it. Enjoy every day. Do your best and see what we get.”

However, few teams are lucky enough to enjoy a title race. These were tense battles that lasted nine months and even when City were in great style during their four successive title victories, they had to fight off formidable challengers before crossing the finish line.

That’s the task that faces Arsenal now and they face a proven side in City – a team who have broken their hearts twice in recent seasons. But Arsenal can at least benefit from being ahead at Christmas. They also just need to make sure they are at the top at the end of May for it to count for something.