{"id":72243,"date":"2025-03-11T15:43:46","date_gmt":"2025-03-11T05:43:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/?p=72243"},"modified":"2025-03-11T15:43:46","modified_gmt":"2025-03-11T05:43:46","slug":"it-might-be-over-now-arsenal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/2025\/03\/it-might-be-over-now-arsenal\/","title":{"rendered":"It Might Be Over Now, Arsenal"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>While you\u2019ll have a hard time convincing Mikel Arteta or any of his loyal squad to admit it; this title race looks to be over.<\/p>\n<p>Three Premier League games without a win for the Gunners, and Liverpool can breathe easy with their 15-point lead at the summit of the table.<\/p>\n<p>While they do have a game in hand, Arsenal look set to finish as runners-up, again.<\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?id=1898814867865313697&#038;dnt=true&#038;lang=en_AU&#038;width=500&#038;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neds.com.au%2Fblog%2F2025%2F03%2Fit-might-be-over-now-arsenal%2F\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" style=\"border:0;\" title=\"X Post\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s clear that they won\u2019t concede this title race until the final whistle blows on Matchday 38.<\/p>\n<p>Nor did they last year, or the year before that.<\/p>\n<p>Runners-up in 2023 after chasing Pep\u2019s treble-winning Manchester City and falling short by five points.<\/p>\n<p>Runners-up again in 2024 after forcing the Citizens to the wire, losing by two points.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s a grit and a tenacity about Mikel Arteta\u2019s Arsenal that can be admired.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s certainly set them apart as they went from a mid-table meme club to a European powerhouse again.<\/p>\n<p>But reality must not be ignored.<\/p>\n<p>Overcoming 15 points in ten games (even with their game in hand) would take incredible defiance and luck, and even then their fate wouldn\u2019t be in their own hands.<\/p>\n<p>Liverpool must slip.<\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?id=1895093471213433074&#038;dnt=true&#038;lang=en_AU&#038;width=500&#038;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neds.com.au%2Fblog%2F2025%2F03%2Fit-might-be-over-now-arsenal%2F\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" style=\"border:0;\" title=\"X Post\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Arsenal will no doubt shorten this 15-point margin.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, they might even push Liverpool to the final few games of the season before mathematics rules them out of the title race.<\/p>\n<p>But it will take a miracle for the Gunners to lift the Premier League title in 2025.<\/p>\n<p>So, where do Arsenal go from here?<\/p>\n<p>Well, just like Jurgen Klopp&#8217;s Liverpool as they desperately chased Pep\u2019s golden generation at Manchester City, you just have to trust the process and keep pushing forward.<\/p>\n<p>Liverpool, who with 97 points failed to lift the title in 2019, finally broke City\u2019s streak of dominance and stopped them three-peating the Premiership with a 99-point campaign the following year.<\/p>\n<p>Good things take time.<\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?id=1899176065295057320&#038;dnt=true&#038;lang=en_AU&#038;width=500&#038;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neds.com.au%2Fblog%2F2025%2F03%2Fit-might-be-over-now-arsenal%2F\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" style=\"border:0;\" title=\"X Post\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Some quick-typing fans might call for Arteta\u2019s head come May, but as the old adage goes, Rome wasn\u2019t built in a day.<\/p>\n<p>While Arne Slot might be hurtling towards his first Premier League title within 12 months at the helm, comparison won\u2019t get us anywhere.<\/p>\n<p>Not to mention that Arsenal still lack a pure nine, have been without Bukayo Saka since December, and lost their first and second choice strikers in January and February.<\/p>\n<p>So, is the 2024\/25 season another writer-off for Arsenal?<\/p>\n<p>No, they\u2019ve still got the UCL.<\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?id=1898041450941890940&#038;dnt=true&#038;lang=en_AU&#038;width=500&#038;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neds.com.au%2Fblog%2F2025%2F03%2Fit-might-be-over-now-arsenal%2F\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" style=\"border:0;\" title=\"X Post\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>It might not seem possible, but with their spot in the Quarter-Finals 99.99% secure after their 7-1 away win against PSV, they\u2019re three steps from glory.<\/p>\n<p>Last season\u2019s 3-2 aggregate defeat against Bayern Munich in the Quarter-Finals provided a necessary dose of humility and experience as Arteta and his team continue the challenge for their first ever Champions League title.<\/p>\n<p>While there\u2019s a very good chance that Arsenal will face the UCL Kings, Real Madrid, in the next stage, it\u2019s not as impossible as it seems.<\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?id=1899031222476808226&#038;dnt=true&#038;lang=en_AU&#038;width=500&#038;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neds.com.au%2Fblog%2F2025%2F03%2Fit-might-be-over-now-arsenal%2F\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" style=\"border:0;\" title=\"X Post\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Real Madrid aren\u2019t exactly strolling through Europe in 2025.<\/p>\n<p>The 13-time Champions finished 11th in the UCL table after a slow start, and defeated the weakest Manchester City side in almost ten years to progress through the Play-Offs.<\/p>\n<p>Assuming Real Madrid overcome Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their Round of 16 derby, Arsenal should trust that they are an equal foe for the reigning champions.<\/p>\n<p>If they face Atletico Madrid, they will likely enter the tie as favourites.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s say Arsenal emerge victorious in the Quarter-Finals; they will face either PSG, Liverpool, Club Brugge, or Aston Villa.<\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?id=1899118044443525240&#038;dnt=true&#038;lang=en_AU&#038;width=500&#038;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neds.com.au%2Fblog%2F2025%2F03%2Fit-might-be-over-now-arsenal%2F\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" style=\"border:0;\" title=\"X Post\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Nothing about these opponents screams impossible.<\/p>\n<p>Arsenal have already defeated PSG earlier this season in the UCL, winning 2-0 at Emirates Stadium.<\/p>\n<p>They have won twice and drawn twice in their last four Premier League clashes against Liverpool (although they were defeated in their FA Cup clash in January), and have won three and lost two in their last five battles against Aston Villa.<\/p>\n<p>So, assuming Arsenal put their best foot forward, and find themselves entering the Allianz Arena on June 1st to compete in their first UCL Final since 2006\u2026 what are their chances of taking home the trophy?<\/p>\n<p>Well, their options include Hansi Flick\u2019s freewheeling FC Barcelona, SL Benfica, Borussia Dortmund, Lille, Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, Feyenoord, and Inter Milan.<\/p>\n<p>With Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Inter Milan all currently leading their respective title races, there are certainly no easy opponents.<\/p>\n<p>But given Arsenal\u2019s performances over the last three years, they really should consider themselves a part of this crowd.<\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?id=1892920490206929144&#038;dnt=true&#038;lang=en_AU&#038;width=500&#038;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neds.com.au%2Fblog%2F2025%2F03%2Fit-might-be-over-now-arsenal%2F\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" style=\"border:0;\" title=\"X Post\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>If they can shed the imposter syndrome that perhaps intimidates them on the European stage, they should back themselves to challenge every single team remaining in the competition.<\/p>\n<p>We all know that knockout football is a completely different beast, so if Arsenal can keep their \u2018over my dead body\u2019 attitude towards defeat, they might have what it takes to mount a serious fight for the 2025 title.<\/p>\n<p>The 2025 Premier League title might be all but out of reach, but for Arteta\u2019s dreamers at Arsenal, the 2025 UCL represents the Holy Grail that would turn a bleak campaign into one of their greatest of all time.<\/p>\n<p>It might be over, but it\u2019s not over yet.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>While you\u2019ll have a hard time convincing Mikel Arteta or any of his loyal squad to admit it; this title race looks to be over. Three Premier League games without a win for the Gunners, and Liverpool can breathe easy with their 15-point lead at the summit of the table. While they do have a&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":52,"featured_media":72244,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9440,8,598,344],"tags":[121,1392,173,9472,396,23],"hub_post_cat":[],"class_list":["post-72243","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-football-unpopular-opinions","category-soccer","category-special-interest","category-sports","tag-arsenal","tag-champions-league","tag-football","tag-football-unpopular-opinions","tag-premier-league","tag-soccer"],"acf":{"md_tip_date":null,"md_tip_date_end":null,"md_market_url":"","tip_date":"11\/03\/2025","event_country":"Australia"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72243","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/52"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=72243"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72243\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/72244"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=72243"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=72243"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=72243"},{"taxonomy":"hub_post_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hub_post_cat?post=72243"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}