Arsenal are in turmoil.

The 1-2 defeat against Manchester City in the 33rd round of the Premier League on April 19th showed that Arsenal have come a long way, but still lack the final step to become champions.

Mikel Arteta was disappointed that Arsenal lost to Man City.

Arsenal left the Etihad far from weak. They fought to the very last minute, exerted immense pressure in injury time, and put Manchester City through some nail-biting moments. But the scoreline still showed a 2-1 victory for the home side, and that's the only thing that matters at this stage of the season.

Manchester City won with the instinct of a king.

As the title race enters its final stretch, every big game takes on double the value. Manchester City understands that. Arsenal understands it too. The difference lies in the fact that one team is accustomed to pressure, while the other is still learning to live with it.

The defeat at the Etihad didn't cause Arsenal to collapse immediately. They still have a chance, still have control over their own destiny in theory. But it revived the haunting feeling that the London team has been trying to shake off for the past two seasons: the feeling of stumbling at the most crucial moment.

Manchester City didn't need a perfect game to beat Arsenal. They didn't dominate completely, nor did they suffocate their opponents for the entire 90 minutes. There were many moments when Man City had to drop deep, endure pressure, and defend against Arsenal's attacks.

But Pep Guardiola's team has something that the rest of the Premier League always fears: the instinct of a champion.

Arsenal need to show character in the remainder of the season.

In big matches, Man City knows when to accelerate, when to be patient, and when to deliver the decisive blow. They control their emotions very well. That's a quality forged over years of winning titles, not just from the quality of their squad.

Erling Haaland scored the winning goal, but this victory wasn't just about one individual. It was the product of a winning habit deeply ingrained in the Manchester City team. That's something Arsenal still lacks.

The visiting team didn't play badly. They started confidently, contested fiercely, and no longer had the fear they felt when facing Man City a few years ago. Arteta has built a more resilient, mature Arsenal team capable of competing against the strongest team in England.

However, in crucial moments, Arsenal still lacked the composure of their opponents. A missed opportunity, a moment of lapse in concentration, or a misjudgment could all be extremely costly.

In the title race against Manchester City, the margin of error was almost zero.

Arteta needs more praise.

There's no denying Arteta's transformation of Arsenal. From a team that was often unstable, they became a well-structured unit, playing modern football and competing on equal footing in both the Premier League and the Champions League.

Mikel Arteta faces a tough schedule ahead.

Arsenal today no longer relies on history. They have returned based on genuine ability. However, as the team rises to the level of title contenders, the standards of evaluation also change. People no longer praise Arsenal for their progress. They expect them to lift trophies. A pressure that every big club must accept.

If Arsenal continue to go trophyless this season, the "going in the right direction" narrative will lose its persuasiveness. Going in the right direction but failing to reach the finish line for too long will create doubt. A young team might have expectations, but a title contender must know how to finish the journey with a trophy.

Arteta understands this better than anyone. The Spanish manager has repeatedly emphasized that Arsenal still have a chance and the season isn't over. That's a necessary message to maintain morale in the dressing room. But from now until the end of the season, words won't carry much weight. Arsenal need consecutive wins and need to react like a true champion.

The most important thing for them right now isn't just the points, but their psychological reaction after the defeat at the Etihad. Big teams always know how to bounce back after a painful loss. If Arsenal can do that, they can still rewrite their story.

Conversely, if the defeat to Manchester City triggers the familiar slump, this season will become another chapter of regret.

Arsenal are very close to the top. But the final stretch is often the hardest part. They are good enough to compete. Now it's time to prove they have the character to win the title.

Highlights Man City 2-1 Arsenal: On the evening of April 19th ( Hanoi time), Man City defeated Arsenal 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium in the 33rd round of the Premier League.

Source: https://znews.vn/arsenal-chao-dao-post1644881.html