Falling Short: What Do Arsenal Need to Finally Beat Man City?

Arsenal 2-1 Everton: Kai Havertz scored a late winning goal, however, Manchester City’s win over West Ham secured their fourth consecutive Premier League title, overshadowing Arsenal’s success.

Arsenal’s hopes of winning the Premier League were dashed once again as they fell just short of the title, despite a 2-1 victory over Everton.

The match saw Kai Havertz produce a late winner, but it wasn’t enough to stop Manchester City from clinching their fourth consecutive Premier League title with a win over West Ham.

As the Arsenal fans sang joyously, you wouldn’t necessarily have thought they’d just finished second.

The dejected faces of the players, who didn’t even celebrate the Havertz goal that secured the victory, showed this.

Illusion of Tension in Title Race

From the very start of the match, there was a sense of inevitability about the title race.

Any true hope of snatching the title from Manchester City vanished after just 76 seconds when news of Phil Foden’s goal against West Ham spread through the stadium.

This symbolised the illusion of tension that characterised most of the title race, with City consistently proving too strong.

Despite Arsenal’s impressive tally of 89 points, City managed to go two points further, showcasing the immense challenge faced by Arsenal.

It says so much about modern football that Arsenal’s 89 points, which would have secured the title last season, weren’t enough this time.

Resilient Everton and Arsenal’s Response

The atmosphere in the stadium before the match was carnival-like, with fans showing pride in their team.

There was clearly a will to defiantly show pride in the team regardless of anything else, even if tinged with hope.

However, this was abruptly silenced by Foden’s early goal, and Everton fans took the opportunity to taunt the home supporters.

By the 18th minute, the visitors were singing “you nearly won the league” as Foden claimed a second.

Arsenal started strongly but found themselves up against a resilient Everton defence.

Idrissa Gueye’s deflected free-kick gave Everton the lead, but Takehiro Tomiyasu quickly equalised with a precise finish, briefly raising hopes among Arsenal fans.

Around the same moment as Tomiyasu’s goal, Mohammed Kudus scored a sensational bicycle kick for West Ham, injecting brief tension and hope into the stadium.

Looking Ahead: Arsenal’s Path to Glory

Despite the disappointment, Arsenal can take pride in their progress. When Arsenal weren’t hitting the frame of the goal, as happened twice, they were hitting Everton bodies.

It was that congested around Jordan Pickford’s box.

Dyche’s players were getting any possible contact onto every move. There was eventually one bounce too many, as the ball came through for Havertz to finish.

The team has shown they are on the right path, but to bridge the gap with Manchester City, they may need to make significant signings, particularly a prime forward.

The relentless pursuit of excellence is what sets City apart, and Arsenal must aim to match that.

It’s better than not being involved. The final day of the season should be seen as part of a continuing journey rather than an end.

The atmosphere among fans and players suggests that Arsenal is ready to persist with the process and strive for future success.

Arsenal’s journey this season has been challenging yet promising.

The team’s resilience and determination have brought them closer to their ultimate goal, but the quest for Premier League glory continues.

With the right additions and a steadfast commitment to their process, Arsenal can hope to overcome the formidable challenge posed by Manchester City and finally lift the trophy.