All Gunners blazing...how Arteta's men can seize glory

Arsenal need a long winning streak to snatch the title, argues Lawrence Ostlere, starting with the visit of Aston Villa today

- Lawrence Ostlere

A title race can be full of unpredictable twists and turns but last season was rare, in that the Premier League’s defining moment could be pinpointed exactly, down to the swing of Leon Bailey’s left boot in Aston Villa’s 2-0 win at Arsenal on 14 April.

Earlier that day Liverpool had lost to Crystal Palace at Anfield, and a sense of heady optimism gripped the Emirates before kickoff. Arsenal had not yet lost a Premier League game in 2024 and, with seven games to go, the title was in their hands.

But Villa had beaten Arsenal at Villa Park earlier in the campaign and were the better team again, finally earning their reward when Bailey’s low finish snuck under David Raya in the 84th minute. By the time Ollie Watkins had added a second and the full-time whistle blew, the stadium was almost empty. Everyone silently understood the cost: Manchester City had beaten Luton 5-0 the day before and their momentum felt unstoppable. Arsenal won their last six games, but so did City, who claimed the title by two points.

Villa return to the Emirates this weekend in different circumstances, in January and not in April, without a threehorse title race entering its final furlong, without the same door-die pressures that fed Arsenal’s anxiety as that game went on. Villa are not quite the same side, a little more drained and distracted by the Champions League a year later.