"It's perhaps a legacy of the Pep Guardiola-Jurgen Klopp rivalry's peak, when being champion meant amassing more than 95 points. It made sense then to scan the track far ahead for any potential hurdles because there were so few. But less than a third of the way through this season, Manchester City, who remain probably the biggest danger to Arsenal, have already dropped as many points as they did in the entirety of 2017-18, their 100-point campaign."
"In that, they were perhaps unfortunate that their first serious post-Arsene Wenger title challenge came in 2022-23 when perceptions were distorted by the winter World Cup. When the league resumed they were seven points clear at the top of the table and it felt like a run-in, even though there was still more than half a season to play. That contributed to an emotionally fraught atmosphere"
Arsenal lead the title race early due to consistent performances while traditional rivals have faltered. Modern football breeds early obsession with title races, a trend amplified by past Guardiola-Klopp seasons when champions exceeded 95 points. Manchester City have already dropped as many points this season as during their 100-point 2017-18 campaign. Arsenal's long title drought since 2004 intensifies desire and scrutiny. The 2022-23 challenge was distorted by the winter World Cup, leaving a strained atmosphere that contributed to late collapses and lost leads. A prolonged psychological run-in favors chasers, and anxiety about success could undermine Arsenal despite recent strong results.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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