For Arsenal, hope always comes with a warning label. Their 4-1 win against Tottenham Hotspur felt different, though, sparking new expectations of finally ending the season with a trophy.
Mikel Arteta’s team defeated their North London rivals with great dominance, with a brace each from Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyökeres. Although Randal Kolo Muani’s early leveller briefly inspired hope for Spurs, Arsenal were sharp, brave, and commanding, and the goal was promptly followed by conceding three.
Arsenal now hold a five-point lead over Manchester City, and the 56–21 goal differential for Arsenal speaks for itself — they are overpowering their opponents, not just slipping past them. Still, this is not very assuring — Arsenal haven’t lifted the Premier League trophy since the 2003-04 season.
The club’s relationship with second place has now become some sort of a running joke, with fans wondering how they always manage to falter at the end. Is this inconsistency or just sheer misfortune? Their form seems to waver when the end starts to approach.
The team has certainly changed since Mikel Arteta’s signing in December 2019, though. Arteta has played a huge role in reshaping Arsenal’s identity, with an FA Cup triumph in his debut season and Community Shield victories in 2020 and 2023. But this season feels like a true examination of his work — for the first time in years, Arsenal have the chance to win the quadruple, not quite within reach, but tantalizingly close.
With the Champions League, Premier League, and two domestic cups in play, Arsenal face a huge challenge — one which leaves no room for error. And considering their history, hope remains fragile. The momentum is currently high, but it might crumble and turn into a burden.
So, can Arsenal actually go all the way? For the rest of the league, there is an unsettling response — they just might. Second place could finally be out of the question this time.
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