Betting Tips
Arsenal: Habitual Chokers Or Unlucky With Injuries?
by Chike Nwoye
31 Jan 2025
During the 2018/19 Premier League season, Liverpool did something incredible. They won 30 out of 38 games, lost just once, and scored 89 goals.
Yet, it still wasn’t enough to clinch the title. Their 97 points set a record for the highest tally by a runner-up and would’ve won the league in every prior EPL season, even the 22-team era between 1992 and 1995.
After that heartbreak, the consensus was clear: the only team capable of stopping Man City was Man City themselves. And in 2019/20, when City had a meagre 81 points, Liverpool didn’t miss their chance, storming to the title with an astonishing 99 points.
Fast forward to 2021/22, Liverpool fought hard again with 92 points, only to fall short as City edged them with 93.
Bottom line? It’s Man City’s league, and we’re all just spectators, they only lose when they trip over themselves.
How Arsenal Stacks Up to Those Performances
So, how do we judge Arsenal’s last two and a half seasons? It’s a tough one. Over the past two campaigns, the Gunners put up strong title challenges.
For long stretches, they topped the table and looked ready to end their 20-year title drought—until the wheels came off late on. You could call them chokers for that, to be fair.
Unlike Liverpool, who never really controlled their fate and always needed City to slip (spoiler: they never did), Arsenal had the lead in their hands twice and still let it go. But then again, this is the most dominant team English football has ever seen, so maybe we can cut Arsenal some slack.
What fans aren’t so forgiving about, though, is this season. Man City’s struggles have been no secret, with their recent Champions League final day win to qualify for the playoffs just one of many signs of their decline this season.
And while many Arsenal fans assumed that if City ever had an off year (which they’re having now), Arsenal would be the ones to capitalize. Instead, Liverpool’s sitting at the top with a game in hand, while Arsenal are six points behind, out of the FA Cup, and pretty much done in the EFL Cup. It’s no wonder some fans are feeling a bit let down.
Injury Woes
Injuries are an inevitable part of football, but for Arsenal, they’ve been brutal in recent years. Take the 2022/23 season, for instance.
The Gunners looked set to win the league until William Saliba’s season-ending injury in mid-March. That single blow derailed everything—they crashed out of the Europa League in the Round of 16 against Sporting CP and managed just 3 wins in their last 9 league games.
This season, the injury curse has struck again, and it’s threatening to derail their campaign once more. Ben White’s been sidelined since mid-November, while captain Martin Ødegaard already missed three months earlier in the season.
Gabriel Jesus, who had just found his scoring rhythm, is now out for the season with a torn ACL. Meanwhile, new signing Riccardo Calafiori has spent so much time in the treatment room that some at the club joke he’s in London for his Residency.
In fact, out of Arsenal’s entire senior squad, only five players haven’t missed a game due to injury, and one of them is backup goalkeeper Neto—hardly reassuring.
But the biggest loss? Bukayo Saka. The 23-year-old has been Arsenal’s best player for three years and started this season on fire, leading the team in (big) chances created, touches in opposition box, dribbles completed and shot attempts.
He already racked up 10 assists in 16 league games and had people whispering about him breaking Thierry Henry’s record of 20 league assists in a season. Then came disaster: a hamstring injury against Crystal Palace just before Christmas that required surgery and sidelined him for three months. Predictably, Arsenal’s attack has struggled without their starboy.
It’s no surprise either. Last season, Ødegaard passed to Saka more than any other non-defensive duo in the league (322), apart from Man City’s Kovacic and Rodri. Losing both players at different times this season—each for three months—was always going to hurt, and the toll is now plain to see.
Bad Luck?
I’ve never been one to buy into the idea that bad luck determines a league campaign. I’m a firm believer in the old cliché: "the table never lies." At the end of the season, the standings reflect exactly what each team deserves based on their decisions and performances.
Sure, Arsenal have been on the wrong side of some controversial calls this season—like Declan Rice’s red card against Brighton, Leandro Trossard’s against Man City and more recently, Myles Lewis-Skelly’s sending of vs Wolves—but they’ve also had a few swings in their favor.
Let’s not forget their corner-kick routine, which, while technically within the rules, looks like some players are prepping for a UFC career after football.
Questionable Squad Build?
You could argue that Mikel Arteta is now reaping the rewards—and perhaps some consequences—of his transfer strategy over the past few seasons. Despite the glaring need for a classic #9 to elevate their attack, Arsenal splashed £62m (potentially rising to £71m) on Kai Havertz, who isn’t a natural striker, and effectively ignored the position since then.
Instead, they’ve funnelled more resources into bolstering an already solid defense and added Mikel Merino to their midfield.
To make things even more puzzling, reports recently surfaced about Martín Zubimendi joining in the summer. While fans are understandably excited—Zubimendi is a top-tier talent—the decision has left many scratching their heads, wondering why the striker issue continues to be overlooked.
It’s hard to win the Premier League, but to do that without a striker? I’m not so sure about that.
Fans have been calling for the signing of Newcastle’s Alexander Isak who is having an outstanding season and is now Premier League proven.
For our online betting community, we have the best odds for him to win the Premier League golden boot.
● Bet on Alexander Isak to Win the EPL Golden Boot @7.50
Are We Sure Mikel Arteta Is The Man To End The Drought?
Are you familiar with the story of Mark Jackson and the Golden State Warriors? If not, permit me to give you a brief summary. Jackson took over as head coach and helped develop Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green.
He built their defensive identity, made them playoff contenders, and laid the foundation for success. But in the end, Golden State fired him before he could reap the rewards.
Imagine that. Jackson did all the heavy lifting for years, even got the team to the playoffs, but wasn’t the man to finish the job. The lesson? You can do all the hard work and get close to the finish line, but sometimes life calls for someone else to take things over the line.
In football terms, that’s exactly what happened with Man City. When their billionaire owners took over, the dream wasn’t just to dominate England but to conquer Europe. Roberto Mancini gave them their iconic first Premier League title (thanks to Aguero’s famous 96th-minute heroics), and Manuel Pellegrini added another league trophy.
Both men were crucial to City’s rise. But it was Pep Guardiola who brought them the dominance they craved and, two seasons ago, delivered the ultimate prize—winning the Champions League final—alongside a historic treble.
Now, think about Mikel Arteta at Arsenal. He’s done an incredible job rebuilding a broken team and turning them into one of the most feared sides in England and perhaps, Europe. But what if he’s not the guy to take them all the way? It’d be tough to accept after the progress he’s made, but as history shows us, sometimes that final leap requires a different leader.
Conclusion
Arsenal fans’ frustrations are understandable. A small adjustment to their transfer strategy—or even some tactical tweaks—might have been enough to push them to the next level and avoid staring down yet another trophyless season.
That said, their injury problems, particularly the loss of Bukayo Saka - one of the best players in the world - have been a massive hurdle to overcome and it’s tough seeing them navigate the next few months which could include some tricky Champions League fixtures.
Still, the season is only halfway through, and title races have taken wilder turns in the past. While I wouldn’t put my money on Arsenal lifting the Premier League trophy this season, I do think they’ll finish as runners-up yet again which, honestly speaking, isn’t the worst thing in the world.
● Bet on Arsenal to Finish In The Top 2 @1.33
BetKing, the best betting site in Nigeria, offers you the chance to win big by betting on UEFA tournaments like Champions League Fixtures, as well as Europa League & Europa Conference League games.
Join us today to get value for money, try out the best betting app in the market and book a bet today to start your journey towards winning millions.
During the 2018/19 Premier League season, Liverpool did something incredible. They won 30 out of 38 games, lost just once, and scored 89 goals.
Yet, it still wasn’t enough to clinch the title. Their 97 points set a record for the highest tally by a runner-up and would’ve won the league in every prior EPL season, even the 22-team era between 1992 and 1995.
After that heartbreak, the consensus was clear: the only team capable of stopping Man City was Man City themselves. And in 2019/20, when City had a meagre 81 points, Liverpool didn’t miss their chance, storming to the title with an astonishing 99 points.
Fast forward to 2021/22, Liverpool fought hard again with 92 points, only to fall short as City edged them with 93.
Bottom line? It’s Man City’s league, and we’re all just spectators, they only lose when they trip over themselves.
How Arsenal Stacks Up to Those Performances
So, how do we judge Arsenal’s last two and a half seasons? It’s a tough one. Over the past two campaigns, the Gunners put up strong title challenges.
For long stretches, they topped the table and looked ready to end their 20-year title drought—until the wheels came off late on. You could call them chokers for that, to be fair.
Unlike Liverpool, who never really controlled their fate and always needed City to slip (spoiler: they never did), Arsenal had the lead in their hands twice and still let it go. But then again, this is the most dominant team English football has ever seen, so maybe we can cut Arsenal some slack.
What fans aren’t so forgiving about, though, is this season. Man City’s struggles have been no secret, with their recent Champions League final day win to qualify for the playoffs just one of many signs of their decline this season.
And while many Arsenal fans assumed that if City ever had an off year (which they’re having now), Arsenal would be the ones to capitalize. Instead, Liverpool’s sitting at the top with a game in hand, while Arsenal are six points behind, out of the FA Cup, and pretty much done in the EFL Cup. It’s no wonder some fans are feeling a bit let down.
Injury Woes
Injuries are an inevitable part of football, but for Arsenal, they’ve been brutal in recent years. Take the 2022/23 season, for instance.
The Gunners looked set to win the league until William Saliba’s season-ending injury in mid-March. That single blow derailed everything—they crashed out of the Europa League in the Round of 16 against Sporting CP and managed just 3 wins in their last 9 league games.
This season, the injury curse has struck again, and it’s threatening to derail their campaign once more. Ben White’s been sidelined since mid-November, while captain Martin Ødegaard already missed three months earlier in the season.
Gabriel Jesus, who had just found his scoring rhythm, is now out for the season with a torn ACL. Meanwhile, new signing Riccardo Calafiori has spent so much time in the treatment room that some at the club joke he’s in London for his Residency.
In fact, out of Arsenal’s entire senior squad, only five players haven’t missed a game due to injury, and one of them is backup goalkeeper Neto—hardly reassuring.
But the biggest loss? Bukayo Saka. The 23-year-old has been Arsenal’s best player for three years and started this season on fire, leading the team in (big) chances created, touches in opposition box, dribbles completed and shot attempts.
He already racked up 10 assists in 16 league games and had people whispering about him breaking Thierry Henry’s record of 20 league assists in a season. Then came disaster: a hamstring injury against Crystal Palace just before Christmas that required surgery and sidelined him for three months. Predictably, Arsenal’s attack has struggled without their starboy.
It’s no surprise either. Last season, Ødegaard passed to Saka more than any other non-defensive duo in the league (322), apart from Man City’s Kovacic and Rodri. Losing both players at different times this season—each for three months—was always going to hurt, and the toll is now plain to see.
Bad Luck?
I’ve never been one to buy into the idea that bad luck determines a league campaign. I’m a firm believer in the old cliché: "the table never lies." At the end of the season, the standings reflect exactly what each team deserves based on their decisions and performances.
Sure, Arsenal have been on the wrong side of some controversial calls this season—like Declan Rice’s red card against Brighton, Leandro Trossard’s against Man City and more recently, Myles Lewis-Skelly’s sending of vs Wolves—but they’ve also had a few swings in their favor.
Let’s not forget their corner-kick routine, which, while technically within the rules, looks like some players are prepping for a UFC career after football.
Questionable Squad Build?
You could argue that Mikel Arteta is now reaping the rewards—and perhaps some consequences—of his transfer strategy over the past few seasons. Despite the glaring need for a classic #9 to elevate their attack, Arsenal splashed £62m (potentially rising to £71m) on Kai Havertz, who isn’t a natural striker, and effectively ignored the position since then.
Instead, they’ve funnelled more resources into bolstering an already solid defense and added Mikel Merino to their midfield.
To make things even more puzzling, reports recently surfaced about Martín Zubimendi joining in the summer. While fans are understandably excited—Zubimendi is a top-tier talent—the decision has left many scratching their heads, wondering why the striker issue continues to be overlooked.
It’s hard to win the Premier League, but to do that without a striker? I’m not so sure about that.
Fans have been calling for the signing of Newcastle’s Alexander Isak who is having an outstanding season and is now Premier League proven.
For our online betting community, we have the best odds for him to win the Premier League golden boot.
● Bet on Alexander Isak to Win the EPL Golden Boot @7.50
Are We Sure Mikel Arteta Is The Man To End The Drought?
Are you familiar with the story of Mark Jackson and the Golden State Warriors? If not, permit me to give you a brief summary. Jackson took over as head coach and helped develop Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green.
He built their defensive identity, made them playoff contenders, and laid the foundation for success. But in the end, Golden State fired him before he could reap the rewards.
Imagine that. Jackson did all the heavy lifting for years, even got the team to the playoffs, but wasn’t the man to finish the job. The lesson? You can do all the hard work and get close to the finish line, but sometimes life calls for someone else to take things over the line.
In football terms, that’s exactly what happened with Man City. When their billionaire owners took over, the dream wasn’t just to dominate England but to conquer Europe. Roberto Mancini gave them their iconic first Premier League title (thanks to Aguero’s famous 96th-minute heroics), and Manuel Pellegrini added another league trophy.
Both men were crucial to City’s rise. But it was Pep Guardiola who brought them the dominance they craved and, two seasons ago, delivered the ultimate prize—winning the Champions League final—alongside a historic treble.
Now, think about Mikel Arteta at Arsenal. He’s done an incredible job rebuilding a broken team and turning them into one of the most feared sides in England and perhaps, Europe. But what if he’s not the guy to take them all the way? It’d be tough to accept after the progress he’s made, but as history shows us, sometimes that final leap requires a different leader.
Conclusion
Arsenal fans’ frustrations are understandable. A small adjustment to their transfer strategy—or even some tactical tweaks—might have been enough to push them to the next level and avoid staring down yet another trophyless season.
That said, their injury problems, particularly the loss of Bukayo Saka - one of the best players in the world - have been a massive hurdle to overcome and it’s tough seeing them navigate the next few months which could include some tricky Champions League fixtures.
Still, the season is only halfway through, and title races have taken wilder turns in the past. While I wouldn’t put my money on Arsenal lifting the Premier League trophy this season, I do think they’ll finish as runners-up yet again which, honestly speaking, isn’t the worst thing in the world.
● Bet on Arsenal to Finish In The Top 2 @1.33
BetKing, the best betting site in Nigeria, offers you the chance to win big by betting on UEFA tournaments like Champions League Fixtures, as well as Europa League & Europa Conference League games.
Join us today to get value for money, try out the best betting app in the market and book a bet today to start your journey towards winning millions.