Arsenal They are still in the research stage Premier League title, although Liverpool have opened up a huge gap at the top, with the Anfield side also having a game in hand.
It's no secret that the Gunners have not been at their best this season. In fact, in 22 Premier League matches, they have won just 12.
However, there is still a long way to go, as nothing was won in January. Mikel Arteta He needs to reassemble his team and motivate them over the next few months. If the North Londoners can play to their full potential, the title race could get exciting.
As such, we've taken a deeper look at the various reasons why Arsenal fans can still feel positive ahead of the final stages of the 2024/25 Premier League season.
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The odds may be against them, but these are the reasons why Arsenal can still win the league title this season.
1
Liverpool is suffering from a deterioration in its level
Arnie slot He transitioned into life in Liverpool easily. Not only are the Reds top of the league, they have also reached the semi-finals of the League Cup and the fourth round of the FA Cup, while also topping the Champions League stage.
Overall, the Merseyside side have lost just two games and Slott has a great chance of lifting several trophies during his debut campaign.
However, this good form comes with its drawbacks. Liverpool are set to stumble amid a relentless run. The question is when will it happen?
Arteta hopes that this will arrive sooner rather than later, especially with the matches over. When that happens, Arsenal must be ready to capitalize on the opportunity and close the gap at the top of the table.
2
The Gunners are looking for signings
Since the start of the 2020/21 season, Arsenal have achieved just that He made just four signings in Januarywith three of them coming in January 2023.
If Arteta wants to end the club's 21-year league title drought, bringing in a new signing or two could be a major boost to their cause.
With Gabriel Jesus He was ruled out for the rest of the season Having suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury against Manchester United recently, this leaves Kai Havertz as Arteta's only centre-forward option (albeit a somewhat temporary one), suggesting the inevitable nature of signing a new striker.
Benjamin Cisco is one of the players who did just that He was linked to the move To London in recent weeks, while Brighton and Hove Albion striker Ivan Ferguson and Igor Jesus, currently a Botafogo player, They are also options Which Arteta is thought to be thinking about.
Havertz has He scored 14 goals in 30 matches In all competitions this season so far – he is hardly prolific by any means. With Bukayo Saka also out due to injury for the foreseeable future, another striker will be the main priority before the transfer window closes in a fortnight.
A lot will depend on Arteta's budget as well. He may need to sell a player or two to fund a new arrival, especially one that could lead the Gunners to the title.
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3
Arsenal can continue their crazy run
Arsenal prefer to be the chasers when it comes to trying to win the Premier League title. During the 2022/23 season, the club Seven points were clear Manchester City after 16 matches.
The club earned 41 points in the next 22 matches, but City earned 53 points to snatch the league title from the grip of the north London club.
However, you only have to look to December 31, 2023 for some hope that may indicate a title revival is still on the horizon.
Arsenal finished fourth and looked like they were in another title chase. the Next 18 games They saw them win 16 matches, draw one and lose one to miss out on the league title by just two points as City claimed their fourth title in a row.
This suggests that doing the chasing is something Arteta and Arsenal would prefer, rather than the club everyone is aiming for at the top of the table.
Continuing a similar performance to last season over the last 16 matches will certainly increase the pressure on Liverpool. Will Slott's team be able to cope, or will the Gunners be able to repeat history and surpass them?
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4
Winning the Carabao Cup can be an incentive
Solitary Winning the FA Cup It is all that can be shown during Arteta's five-year reign in north London – and even that was achieved during his first year at the club.
While the first two years were about building a team that could challenge the duopoly between Liverpool and Manchester City, he has transformed a team that is now fully capable of winning trophies.
Reaching the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup this season was certainly expected given the strength of the squad, but could winning the cup be the catalyst for further success?
Arteta's side will have to do things the hard way after Arsenal lost the first leg of their semi-final to Newcastle United, failing to get the better of Eddie Howe's side in a 2-0 home defeat.
The second leg will be played at St James' Park – the north Londoners' home ground He won just twice under Arteta In five attempts.
Overturning the deficit to reach the final would give the club a huge boost, while winning the title for the first time since 1993 could motivate them to win another Premier League title.
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5
Liverpool can go further in the cups
As mentioned earlier, the Anfield side still has a chance to win all four competitions they have entered this season.
As the club progresses in each competition, it will put more pressure on the team, which could cause fixture congestion during the final few weeks of the season.
This could play into Arsenal's favour, especially if the Reds start losing games and suffer a decline in form towards the finish line.
Slot has some impressive squad depth at his disposal, but more games will also mean the club has a greater chance of suffering further injuries, potentially losing key players just as Arsenal have done this season.
6
Bukayo Saka returns
Bukayo Saka register 9 goals and 13 assists Arsenal played 24 games in all competitions before suffering a hamstring injury in December.
After the injury, Arteta addressed the situationas he delivered some bad news that came at the worst possible time, saying: “He underwent surgery. Everything went well. But unfortunately, he will be out for several weeks. I think it will take more than two months. I don’t do that.” “I don't know exactly how much longer.”
If all goes to plan, Saka could be back in first-team action by the start of March, giving the club a major boost ahead of the final months of the season.
If he can pick up where he left off at the end of the calendar year, he could add some much-needed quality in the final third, thus strengthening Arsenal's title challenge in the process.
However, Arteta's men will need to keep pace with Liverpool until Saka recovers, which is certainly easier said than done given their recent form.
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7
More first team players are set to return
While getting Saka back to full fitness is the club's top priority, there are a few other first-team stars who are set to return in the next few weeks.
Ben White is gone The previous 10 in the Premier League He missed matches due to a knee injury, and his last appearance was against Chelsea at the beginning of November.
The defender could return at the start of February, which would give the manager a boost before the end of the season, so White could become a secret weapon of sorts.
Elsewhere, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Riccardo Calafiore have suffered setbacks during the season, but could also be back in contention by the start of February, giving Arteta more defensive options.
8
Arsenal has an easier game
In the club's remaining eight away matches in the top flight, Arsenal Facing six teams currently occupying the positions In the bottom seven of the league table (at the time of writing).
They face Liverpool at Anfield in May, which is certainly being touted as a potential title decider, especially if Arsenal can stay within their reach.
On the other hand, the Reds have to face seven of the current top 10 teams. Over their last five games, they have not only faced Arsenal, but will also have to negotiate matches with Tottenham Hotspur and trips to Chelsea and Brighton.
Slott will be hoping the title will be won by the time the match against Arsenal kicks off, but if Arteta can galvanize his side over the next few months, coupled with Liverpool's decline in form, there is every chance the title race will remain open. Come May.