MARTIN KEOWN: Arsenal have to stay focused after their West Ham hiccup like we did in 1998 and 2002
MARTIN KEOWN: Arsenal need to stay focused after their hiccup against West Ham as we did in 1998 and 2002…the chance is still there for Mikel Arteta’s young, talented, hungry squad
This is such a young Arsenal group that hiccups were to be expected.
Aside from Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko, they are trying to win a Premier League for the first time, while rivals Manchester City are a group rich in experience having won the title in four of the last five seasons.
To compare this Arsenal to 1997-98, we drew 0-0 with West Ham, but then won 10 games in a row to be crowned champions.
In 2001-2002 we drew 1-1 with Southampton, but then we won 12 in a row to take the title. That momentum got us to the finish line.
Mikel Arteta’s team knows that something close to perfection is needed between now and the end of the season to pull this off.
For the second game in a row, Arsenal blew a 2-0 lead after being pinned to Liverpool
In 2001-02 the Gunners drew 1-1 against Southampton, but then won 12 in a row to take the title
That includes navigating a title-deciding trip to Manchester City on April 26, a game that has all the makings of a Premier League final.
But the opportunity is still there for this young, talented, hungry group.
Arsenal must first and foremost ensure that there is no hangover left from these two games in which they lost 2-0.
They had their opponents on the ground and by the throat on Sunday but allowed West Ham to get back up before half time and get into the game with that cheap goal, Thomas Partey lost the ball to Declan Rice and Gabriel fouled Lucas Paqueta.
That penalty totally changed the atmosphere at the London Stadium and Arsenal paid the price for making costly mistakes.
They must have been in pain yesterday morning. But nothing has been won or lost yet.
By the time Arsenal leave for City later this month, they could be seven points clear at the top of the table.
They need to embrace that fact, stay focused, be relentless and play with authority, starting with Southampton’s visit this Friday.
The Hammers trailed the Gunners by two goals after just 10 minutes into the game
Their lead at the top of the table has now been reduced to four points over City, who still have a game in hand
It won’t be easy, but winning the Premier League never is.
After going through these bumps, it will taste even sweeter when they finally get to celebrate being champions.
As we did in ’98 with our 10th consecutive win over Everton on a glorious day at Highbury, or in ’02 with our 12th consecutive win over Manchester United at Old Trafford.
These Arsenal players have had an incredible journey and the dream is still alive.
