SQUEAKY GUN TIME

Mikel's mob starting to look nervy at home

- BY JOHN CROSS

THE problem is that Arsenal fans have seen this story before.

And maybe that explains why the whole of the Emirates - the fans and the players - felt so painfully nervous as their title challenge took a serious blow after this five-goal thriller.

You have to give huge credit to Manchester United because, in the space of eight days, Michael Carrick's new regime has beaten the best two teams in the country. Manchester City last week and now Arsenal.

But the bigger concern for the Gunners must be that one terrible mistake - a kamikaze back pass by Martin Zubimendi (inset) to let in Bryan Mbeumo for the equaliser - should turn the whole place into a nervous wreck.

Arsenal started the weekend seven points clear, but City and Aston Villa both winning reduced the gap to four, and it felt as if Mikel Arteta's men could not handle the pressure. They are still four clear at the top, but they look anything but dead certs.