The BBC commented: if you were to call Arsenal's 1-0 win at Brighton an 'ugly victory', then perhaps that's a bit of an insult to the word 'ugly'. But of course, Mikel Arteta's team doesn't care about that criticism at all.
How did Arsenal win?
It wasn't until the 88th minute that league leaders Arsenal managed their second shot on target against Brighton, in a match where they only had a total of four shots. Never mind. The important thing is that Arsenal secured a crucial victory, taking all three points to solidify their position at the top of the table. More importantly: Arsenal won in a round where Manchester City unexpectedly dropped two points with a 2-2 draw at home against Nottingham Forest. This widened the gap between the two leading teams in the Premier League to seven points (Arsenal have played one more game).
Arsenal celebrate after the victory.
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As the season draws to a close, the pressure on Arsenal to win the championship is mounting, becoming increasingly heavy. They've finished second in the last three seasons, a familiar pattern: no matter how long they lead, Arsenal always end up second. "Surrendering to pressure" is the most frequently cited reason. They consistently slip up unexpectedly while their rivals maintain winning streaks right at the crucial stage. Now, the opposite is true: Arsenal, even without playing well or attractively, still win. And the importance of those victories skyrockets when their rivals – just like Arsenal themselves before – suddenly stumble!
The recent 1-0 win against Brighton is just one example of a recurring theme throughout Arsenal's season: winning primarily through efficiency. As many as 50% of Arsenal's wins have been by a single goal. And, needless to say, Arsenal's percentage of goals scored from set pieces far surpasses all others (even though their only goal against Palace wasn't from a set piece, and was even worse: the ball deflected off an opponent's foot).
Compared to the league leaders in the surrounding major leagues, Arsenal have the fewest goals scored. Only Paris Saint-Germain in France's Ligue 1 currently have fewer goals than Arsenal, but that's because Paris Saint-Germain have played fewer matches (53 goals in 24 games, Arsenal 59 goals in 30 games).
Determined to win the championship in this extraordinary season.
Among the top 5 teams, Arsenal was the only one to secure all three points in the last round of the Premier League. Even Manchester United, who are soaring under manager Michael Carrick, suffered their first defeat, conceding a goal in the 90th minute against Newcastle. This detail has led observers to wonder: has Arsenal's luck changed and is now more likely to win the championship this season?
This has been a strange season, with results so unexpected they're almost "bizarre" in the Premier League. Almost every "big team" has weakened, potentially losing at any moment, with only Arsenal remaining relatively stable. This is the complete opposite of the past: in the 2015-2016 season, when every strong team seemed to falter, Arsenal still managed to finish second, behind Leicester.
Arsenal (right) are 7 points behind Manchester City.
This season, Arsenal is the first team in the birthplace of football (meaning the first team in the history of world football) to enter its 100th consecutive season at the highest level. On the other hand, Arsenal itself is experiencing its longest title drought in history. Since their first league title (in 1931), Arsenal has never had to wait more than two decades to return to the top like they are now.
Therefore, the style of victory or the playing style are less important than winning the championship this season. The possibility of dropping to third place is virtually nonexistent. If they fail to defend their top spot, instead of celebrating their 100th season with a championship title, Arsenal will face the opposite extreme: becoming the first team in English football history to finish second for four consecutive seasons!
In their most recent triumph (in 2004), Arsenal's Premier League trophy was entirely gold-plated, as they were the only champions in history to remain undefeated. And now, Arsenal are determined to return to the top, even if it means winning the... ugliest possible championship!
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