Arsenal now need to do something that has only been done once before to win the Premier League title

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The pressure is on for Mikel Arteta as Arsenal made it three games without a Premier League win.

Losing to Newcastle United was definitely not part of Arteta’s redemption script following two questionable results. 

The Gunners suffered defeat against Bournemouth and then gave up two leading positions to draw against Liverpool, with matters not made better at St James’ Park.

Arsenal were unable to respond to Alexander Isak’s 12th-minute opener, losing 1-0 in the North East to significantly question their claim to the title race. 

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What Arsenal have to do to win the Premier League title

The result put Arsenal seven points behind league leaders Liverpool, who came from behind to beat Brighton at Anfield.

There was some optimism as Manchester City suffered their first defeat of the campaign, with the Gunners still five points behind Pep Guardiola’s champions.

Playing catch up with Man City is not something Arteta or any manager is qualified to do, with Liverpool’s presence an even bigger issue. 

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If Arsenal were to go on and win the Premier League title from this point, they’d achieve something that only one side in league history has done before.

Only Blackburn Rovers have overcome a gap of more than six points after 10 games played to win the title, winning the league in 1994/95 to overcome Newcastle United’s eight-point lead at match day 10.

Turning around a gap of seven points after 10 games played to then go on and win the title in May would be a remarkable achievement for Arteta, and an unlikely one, based on the Premier League history books.

Blackburn have the record for points behind first by an eventual champion after 10 games, with Manchester United and Manchester City overcoming a six point deficit since.

Mikel Arteta has to succumb to change

Arsenal haven’t had the easiest start to the season with injuries and controversial decisions but such hurdles are expected to be cleared by title hopefuls.

Against Newcastle, it was unarguable that the Gunners were undeserving of a win, bringing little threat to the game and showing limited fight to turn the fixture around. 

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A lot of the woes at St James’ Park came from Arteta’s game management, as the boss failed to change tactically when it was abundantly clear that things weren’t working.

Added to a lack of tactical flexibility, the manager opted not to make personnel changes at half time, leaving it later than required to make game-changing substitutions, resulting in Arsenal’s fortunes remaining the same.

From this point, it will be up to Arteta to either change his tactics and fight for what is left or watch things continue to plummet, as it becomes even clearer that plan B is required.