There were times earlier this season when Arsenal looked unstoppable in attack. Mikel Arteta’s side crushed Leeds United 5-0 in August, Nottingham Forest 3-0 in September, and Atletico Madrid 4-0 in October. Statement victories continued in November with a 4-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur and a 3-1 triumph against Bayern Munich.
Yet as the campaign wore on and the pressure intensified, the winning margins began to shrink. Now, familiar chants of “1-0 to the Arsenal” have become a regular soundtrack.
Since thrashing Spurs 4-1 again in February, their only victory by more than two goals came in a 3-0 defeat of Fulham just over a week ago. Arsenal have racked up 10 1-0 wins across all competitions this season, with four of those coming within a 33-day span during the most critical stretch of the year. Could this be how they achieve their dream of a Premier League and Champions League double?
In the Champions League, Sporting CP were edged 1-0 in the quarterfinal first leg, and a goalless draw in the return leg secured progress. Against Atletico Madrid in the semifinals, Arsenal drew 1-1 in Spain before winning the second leg 1-0 to reach the final against Paris Saint-Germain on May 30.
In the Premier League, both Newcastle United and West Ham United have been beaten 1-0 in recent weeks.
The shift in style appears to have followed the Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City at Wembley on March 22. Arsenal lost 2-0 that day, then suffered a 2-1 loss to Championship side Southampton in the FA Cup six days later. That wobble left the team rattled, and they have since become far more pragmatic. The George Graham era of the late 1980s and early 1990s — defined by “1-0 to the Arsenal” — has suddenly become relevant again.
Now, with a five-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the table and two league matches remaining (City have three left), Arsenal are closing in on a potential double. Victory over already-relegated Burnley next Monday could set up a title-clinching visit to Crystal Palace on May 24, the final day of the top-flight season.
Betfair prices Arsenal at 17/2 to beat Burnley 1-0, while they are 9/2 to defeat PSG by the same score in the Champions League final. Arsenal have proven they know how to overwhelm opponents, but they now seem just as comfortable grinding out narrow wins. That approach may yet deliver two trophies.
