It’s amazing what a few weeks can do in football and how it can change the mood in the camp, something Arsenal can testify to.
It wasn’t so long ago that they couldn’t hit a barn door, were dropping points in the Premier League and getting knocked out of the FA Cup.
The pressure was well and truly on Mikel Arteta, including legendary goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel feeling that their Premier League title chances were well and truly out of the window.
But since returning from the winter break, Arsenal have turned up the screws, including scoring 11 goals in their last two matches.
As a result of it all, Peter Schmeichel is completely changing his mind about their title chances after just ‘two weeks’ because now he feels they are well and truly back in it, as he told Premier League Productions (18/02/24 at 1:05 pm).
The issue for the Gunners was what happened last season and how many felt it was a repeat of that collapse.
But the big difference here is that Mikel Arteta and his players previously collapsed when it mattered most, now it’s happened in December/January, enough time to pick themselves up.
And that’s exactly what they are doing, which is resulting in many changing their minds about their title chances now.
Arsenal’s Premier League title battle
“I have to be honest, I didn’t think Arsenal had a chance at all at winning the Premier League,” said Schmeichel.
“I didn’t think that two weeks ago, I think that now. Of course, they have a chance. They are scoring goals. They are playing really well. Winning breeds winning. Scoring goals breeds scoring goals. It seems as though there is a great atmosphere within the squad. They look very much together as well.
“And they look strong at the back. I think, a combination of scoring goals and being strong at the back, will take you a long, long way.”
Arsenal momentum
This ball has to keep on rolling for Arsenal and it needs to be maintained until they play Manchester City again.
Arsenal have faced their title rivals twice this season – Community Shield and the Premier League – and won both.
But this time, it’s going to be the toughest challenge yet simply because Man City will come at them harder than ever.
That’s where this mighty Arsenal defence, led by William Saliba at the back and the machine of Declan Rice in the middle, is going to be tested, and if they see through it, then they might just become champions of England again.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
