Arsenal's form has seen them open the door for Manchester City, who are smelling blood in the title race, with some claiming the Gunners are losing their composure at the worst time
Arsenal are in danger of squandering their lead at the top
Arsenal are in danger of squandering their lead at the top(Image: Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
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Former Chelsea star Eidur Gudjohnsen believes that Arsenal have "already lost the league" as their late season collapse continued at the weekend - opening the door for Manchester City.
The Gunners lost for the third time in four games across all competition as Bournemouth stunned the Emirates, who booed off the home team at full-time. The reverse now means that City can win all their remaining games and claim the Premier League title.
Pep Guardiola's side looked relentless on Sunday as they hammered Chelsea and look to be timing their run perfectly. Arsenal meanwhile, weighed down by the pressure of trying to finally get over the line, look to be faltering once again.
Previously they've led leads at the top slip under Mikel Arteta, who has been undone in title races by City in two of the last three years. The two title protagonists face off on Sunday at the Etihad with the winner seizing the momentum in the final weeks - but Gudjohnsen believes the Gunners have already lost the psychological battle.
The former league champion said on The Dressing Room Podcast : "Even the fans are going, 'What can we do? How can we stop this?'… I think they’ve already lost the league. We’re here to say our opinions.
"In the end, it’s still in their own hands. They have to go to Man City, get a result, and if they get a win then it’ll be huge. I just don’t see it happening. The way Man City played in the second half at Stamford Bridge, I felt I was watching the best team in the Premier League by far.
"Just the ability to move the ball around, the physical part of it. They’re all so strong. Jeremy Doku, how strong he is! People just fall off him. When you see Antoine Semenyo run, he just eats the pitch up."
Mikel Arteta has come unstuck in title races before - and will be fearing a repeat
Mikel Arteta has come unstuck in title races before - and will be fearing a repeat(Image: Getty Images)
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City beat Arsenal in the Carabao Cup only last month, producing a dominant second-half performance to record a 2-0 victory and claim the first trophy of the season. That hangover has continued with the Gunners being dumped out of the FA Cup by Championship side Southampton.
Gudjohnsen insists we are seeing City hitting top gear at the right time - whilst Arsenal are heading the other way as they face the prospect of another season without silverware.
He said: "If you see Manchester City in the March and April periods for the last seven or eight years, they always seem to be at their best and the exact opposite is happening with Arsenal."
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