Arsenal find themselves eleven points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool with seven games remaining.
The Gunners have endured a difficult season, marred by injury and controversial refereeing decisions, and the Merseysiders have subsequently run away with the league.
Mikel Arteta’s team were held to a 1-1 draw against Everton on the weekend, in a match that looked to have completely ended any hope of Arsenal reclaiming a place in the title race.
However, an Alex Iwobi-inspired Fulham beat Liverpool on Sunday, sparking optimistic hope once again.
Micah Richards sets record straight on Arsenal ‘bottling’ Premier League title
While Fulham’s victory over the Reds might have kept Arsenal’s title dreams just about alive, in reality, it’s already gone.
Liverpool need just four wins from their final seven games to guarantee the silverware, and they have the likes of West Ham, Leicester City and Tottenham left to play.
Arne Slot’s side could wrap the title up as soon as April 20th, with two wins and two Arsenal defeats in the next two games ending the race.
Despite finding themselves so far behind Liverpool at such an early stage of the season, Micah Richards has defended the Gunners’ efforts.
Speaking on the Rest is Football podcast, the former right-back claimed Arteta’s squad’s injuries are what have derailed their season.
“From Arsenal’s point of view, they’ve pushed Man City over the last two seasons,” the pundit said.
“This season, they’ve had big injuries, Jesus gets injured, Havertz gets injured, Gabriel gets injured at the wrong time. Timber, Saka, they’re kicking themselves.
“Everyone’s talking about Arsenal bottling it or whatever, but I’m just thinking, injuries at the wrong times is just absolutely… they must be kicking themselves because you can’t do anything about that.
“Maybe, on the flip side, could they have got anyone in January when they know that the squad’s got so many games? But, they’ve done so well and the season where Man City have been off, Liverpool go and take it.”
Arsenal’s injury issues have ruined their season
While Richards’ words may seem like an excuse for Arsenal, his point is completely valid.
The Gunners have been without key players for large stretches of the season, and any other team in world football would struggle to keep pace with a relentless Liverpool side if faced with a similar set of circumstances.
Martin Odegaard missed three months, Bukayo Saka was ruled out for four months, while the likes of Takehiro Tomiyasu, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Ben White and Riccardo Calafiori have all missed huge chunks of the campaign.
Gabriel Magalhaes was the latest star player to suffer a serious injury last week, compiling Arsenal’s misery.
In the 2022/23 season, a year after pushing City to the brink, Liverpool failed to finish in the top four after enduring some injury issues.
Arsenal are still likely to finish second, with this aforementioned season from Jurgen Klopp’s team putting things into context.
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