“Bottle jobs”: Former Arsenal star blasts Gunners after Wolves collapse

Former Arsenal star Paul Merson fears the worst for the Gunners’ Premier League title hopes after Mikel Arteta’s team threw away a two-goal lead to draw against bottom-of-the-table Wolves on Wednesday.

Leaders Arsenal extended their advantage over Manchester City to five points, but the dropped points mean Pep Guardiola’s side can move to within three if they win their game in hand. Both teams now have their title fate in their own hands, with City hosting the Gunners in Gameweek 33.

Saka and Hincapié give Arsenal early control

Goals from Bukayo Saka and Piero Hincapié had Arsenal 2-0 up after 56 minutes and seemingly cruising to victory against Wolves, who came into the game with just one win and nine points from their previous 26 Premier League games this season.

Late Wolves surge stuns the Gunners

However, the bottom club immediately reduced the deficit through Hugo Bueno’s superb strike, and debutant Tom Edozie bundled in an injury-time equalizer to stun Arsenal right at the death.

Arsenal have now dropped points in five of their last seven Premier League games, allowing City to close the gap at the top. Merson, a pundit for Sky Sports, is now one of many who fear his former team could blow their lead once again, echoing the end of the 2022-23 season when they led most of the way before being pipped to the title by Manchester City.

Merson slams Arsenal’s “slow and lazy” performance

“If Man City win all their games now, they win the league. It’s disappointing,” Merson said. “You can’t play in second gear. If Arsenal play at a high tempo, Wolves can’t live with them. But to play the way they played, and it’s slow and lazy, and they are giving the ball away.”

Merson, who won league titles with Arsenal in 1989 and 1991, also warned Arteta and his team, runners-up in each of the last three seasons, that serious questions will now be asked about their ability to handle the pressure of a Premier League title challenge.

“It’s going to come on full blast now, being bottle jobs, melting. It’s full on now drawing away at Brentford and then being two goals up against the worst team in the league.”

When was the last time Arsenal won the Premier League?

Arsenal haven’t won the Premier League since 2003-04, when they became the first team to win the English top division without losing a game since Preston North End in 1888-89.

This season, the Gunners have led the league since Gameweek 7, but their stuttering form means their 22-year drought may not end just yet.

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