Ever since the first title charge under Mikel Arteta in the 2022/23 season, there has always been one big sucker-punch, unthinkable result at the Emirates stadium in the month of April.
On those occasions, the ‘April home-killer’ has usually turned the Gunners from title favourites into title underdogs, not just theoretically, but mathematically too.
**April 21, 2023 – Arsenal 3-3 Southampton**
After consecutive 2-2 draws against Liverpool and West Ham, Arsenal had gone from being eight points clear as Manchester City had a game in hand, to being just four points clear while their rivals had the spare game to play.
That meant Arsenal had to win this Friday night affair against relegation-bound Southampton to keep a one-point lead at the top even if City were to win their game in hand.
Well, they somehow drew 3-3, salvaging a draw after being 3-1 behind to the lowly Saints, and it was this result which officially made Arsenal underdogs mathematically in that title race. For the first time, their maximum potential points tally for the campaign was lower than that of Guardiola’s side.
**April 14, 2024 – Arsenal 0- 2 Aston Villa**
Earlier on this Sunday, leaders Liverpool had lost at home to Crystal Palace to leave Arsenal with a golden chance of becoming champions if they win all of their final five games.
After huffing and puffing infront of goal and missing a few half-chances, Arsenal somehow succumbed to a 2-0 defeat to Unai Emery’s side as Aston Villa landed second half blows from Watkins and Bailey.
Despite winning all remaining games after that Villa loss, Arsenal missed out on the title due to the damage of a home loss which handed Manchester City an advantage they never surrendered.
In fact, the only season where the annual April disaster at the Emirates did not necessarily occur was last term, where Liverpool won the title unchalleneged. But then again, the calamity home result did happen arguably a few weeks earlier in February 2025 when Arsenal lost 1-0 at home to West Ham in a week where Liverpool had opened the door in the titrle race with a midweek draw.
It seems as though whenever Arsenal have been in pole position for the title (apart from last season when they weren’t) there has been a deflating home result in April 2023, then April 2024 and another one on Saturday, in April 2026.
The major difference though is that unlike 2023 and 2024, Arsenal are still mathermatically in control of their own destiny and that was Arteta’s men should remember when they visit the Etihad on Sunday.
There are reasons to be concerned but there are also enough reasons to still believe the Bournemouth result will not turn out to be an ‘April home-killer’ this time.