Arsenal told one major improvement from last season could hand them edge in Premier League title race

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Arsenal are eyeing the Premier League title after missing out to Manchester City in the previous two seasons.

Mikel Arteta’s side first announced themselves as title challengers in the 2022/23 campaign, finishing five points behind Man City.

Frustratingly, the Gunners led the table for the majority of that season, with City having the power to take advantage of Arsenal’s collapse on the home straight. 

The 2023/24 calendar saw Arteta’s squad move three points closer to Pep Guardiola’s title winners, finishing only two points behind the champions to set the race up once more this term.

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Key improvement spotted at Arsenal amid Premier League title race

City’s superiority ultimately denied Arsenal the chance to win the title over the previous two seasons, with the gap there for Arteta to close in 2024/25.

Having already played City at the Etihad this season, it’s clear that a title rivalry has been sparked, with Guardiola’s side aware of the threat the Gunners pose in the race for the top spot come May. 

A lot has been said about Arsenal this term, whether it be the uproar that came from the draw against City, or the close call that was seen against Leicester, with another consensus being that Arteta’s side are certainly not shying away from the challenge. 

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Speaking in reaction to the Gunners’ most recent late 4-2 win over the Foxes, pundit Robbie Earle shared one improvement he’s seen from Arteta’s side already this season.

“My takeaway right now is this, Arsenal team have grown up, they were a little bit like teenagers in the first year or two and a bit all over,” Earle said on The 2 Robbies podcast. 

“There was a sense for me for the whole period that somehow they’d find a way. 

“Their corner kick routine is becoming something we talk about every week, everybody in that Arsenal team feels like it’s a chance for a goal. They got the job done, they did it in a fashion that was mature.”

Critics will wonder why Arsenal allowed Leicester to find a way back into the game however, Earle and many others shared the opinion that the Gunners would win the fixture regardless.

Arsenal’s maturity makes their claim to the title stronger than ever

Having played six fixtures so far in the league, Arsenal remain unbeaten while getting away trips to Aston Villa, City and Spurs out of the way early.

Last campaign, the Gunners lost five times in games that could have avoided defeat, particularly the home and away fixtures against Villa and defeats in December to West Ham and Fulham. 

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The needless dropping of points midway through the campaign ultimately cost Arsenal the title, losing pace in the race with City, who are more than capable of putting together a remarkable winning streak.

Earle’s comments on what he’s seen so far this season suggest that the Gunners have learned from the mistakes of last term, with the realisation that near-perfection is required to usurp City.

The win against Leicester was made more difficult than it needed to be however, as the pundit stressed, Arsenal got the job done in a mature fashion, which may not have been the case last season.