Being the team to beat is weighing on scarred Arsenal: ISAAN KHAN on how Mikel Arteta can demonstrate a collapse isn’t coming – and the problem he has in attack

Premier League leaders Arsenal dropped points for a third successive match on Sunday as Michael Carrick‘s Manchester United triumphed with a stunning 3-2 win at the Emirates.

With Arsenal’s gap at the top cut to just four points following Manchester City‘s victory over Wolves, the pressure is mounting on Mikel Arteta’s side after such a convincing start to the season.

Daily Mail Sport’s ISAAN KHAN assesses how Sunday’s defeat will impact the Gunners in their title pursuit.

Leading the pack is taking its toll 

Arsenal and pressure are like oil and water, some observes would argue, two elements which just don’t mix.

On the evidence so far this month, the heaviness of being the team to beat is slowly seeping into the north London club — both on and off the pitch.

To lead the Premier League table by four points but still have boos ringing around the Emirates at half-time reflects a scarring from the past three seasons which only major silverware will erase.

The Gunners dropped points once again as Manchester United triumphed 3-2 at the Emirates

The disquiet was even more bizarre because of the Gunners’ unbeaten run at home in this campaign across 16 matches; many a team would kill for such a record.

Sunday’s defeat doesn’t necessarily precipitate a collapse on the horizon, but an important few weeks ahead for Mikel Arteta to demonstrate just why the Gunners are primed to win the Premier League title this season.

Having plodded through goalless draws against Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, a return to winning ways in the league was a must for Arteta.

Particularly against a Manchester United side which has endured their fair share of adversity this season, but enjoying the new-manager bounce of Michael Carrick. They were there for the taking in the first half, the Gunners on top and looking strong.

Senne Lammens pulled off an impressive save to deny Martin Zubimendi’s header, yet even at that point, more chances for a goal rush felt impending.

But it was the Zubimendi mistake for Bryan Mbeumo’s goal which epitomised that notion of Arsenal being susceptible to errors when the pressure is on, and opened the door for Man United.

It was an awful back pass, out of character even, for a player who has had an excellent season so far at Arsenal.

Arteta said: ‘There were three or four (mistakes), to be fair, that were very unusual today in the game, and they are part of football.

The next few weeks are important for Mikel Arteta to demonstrate just why the Gunners are primed to win the Premier League title this season, after a disappointing run of results

Title rivals Manchester City are hot on their tails and have got over the line on many occasion

‘Sometimes you get punished and sometimes not, and today we got punished. Apart from that, we have to give credit to the opponent for what they’ve done and in the manner that they managed to win the game.’

Moments such as these don’t quell that feeling of the pressure building around a team who have great squad depth, though have now gone three league matches without a win.

That is not good enough as Manchester City historically only need a sniff to wedge themselves back into a title race.

It makes their league match against Leeds at Elland Road next weekend strangely feel like a crunch game, even though it’s January.

Defeat would open the door for Man City to cut the gap to just a single point, whereas a win against Carrick’s men on Sunday would have widened the crack to seven going into that game. This is how fine the margins are. 

Now is the time for Arsenal to really step up.

Arsenal’s striker conundrum rumbles on

After two well-taken goals midweek in the Champions League against Inter Milan, Gabriel Jesus was given a first league start since January 4, 2025.

He showed signs of link-up play and a will to stretch the Man United backline with his runs forward — but not enough to stake a claim as the Gunners’ starting No9 right now.

Gabriel Jesus was given a first league start since January 4, 2025 but failed to make an impact

Viktor Gyokeres missed a good chance in the closing stages after coming on as a substitute

The striker spot is there for the taking, so who will step up?

Viktor Gyokeres came on after 58 minutes and put in a shift as usual, but was widely mocked when his effort in injury time went for a throw-in.

The Swede hasn’t shown enough thus far to be the main man.

The situation is complicated because of the circumstances around Kai Havertz, who would otherwise fill the void. As Daily Mail Sport reported on Thursday, his minutes are being carefully managed because of a flare up to his knee in recent weeks.

Tellingly, he didn’t make the squad on Sunday.

Substitute Mikel Merino scored Arsenal’s second with a scrappy effort and, although not a natural forward, did look a threat at times.

Should Arteta turn to him in the coming weeks? It could be an option — if neither Jesus or Gyokeres do enough to claim the No9 jersey.