Former Chelsea midfielder Craig Burley has criticized Arsenal’s recent loss of momentum, suggesting the league leaders are inadvertently keeping Manchester City’s title hopes alive. The Gunners’ 1-1 draw against Brentford on Thursday left Mikel Arteta’s squad with a four-point advantage over the defending champions, who had previously closed the gap by defeating Fulham. Appearing on ESPN FC, Burley argued that these consistent slip-ups prevent City from feeling the psychological weight of a double-digit deficit, which would otherwise demoralize the chasing pack.
The pundit highlighted a pattern of missed opportunities for North London, pointing to an unexpected home defeat against Manchester United and a difficult outing at Nottingham Forest as evidence of fragility. While Burley acknowledged Brentford’s quality as a top-half side, he noted that Arsenal’s historically strong record at the Gtech Community Stadium should have resulted in a more decisive performance. By failing to secure all three points, Arsenal missed the chance to restore a six-point cushion, allowing Pep Guardiola’s men to remain within striking distance as the season enters its final 12 matches.
“Arsenal just keep throwing City a bone, don’t they?” Burley remarked during the broadcast. “The unexpected loss to Manchester United at home was a surprise. While Nottingham Forest away is challenging, Brentford is a decent team. Still, Arsenal had a strong record there recently. They still keep throwing that bone Man City’s way just to keep them from being demoralised.”
The title race now moves into a critical phase where psychological resilience becomes as vital as tactical execution. Manchester City has a proven track record of late-season surges, and Burley believes that Arsenal’s inability to “kill off” the competition keeps the door ajar for a potential comeback. With several high-stakes fixtures remaining on the calendar, including a head-to-head clash at the Etihad Stadium in April, the Gunners face immense pressure to stop conceding ground to their rivals.
Arteta’s side must now regroup ahead of their FA Cup engagement and subsequent Premier League fixtures to ensure that this recent “bone” does not become the turning point of the campaign. Supporters remain wary of City’s ability to capitalize on the slightest hesitation, making every point crucial from this moment until May. Burley concluded that while Arsenal possesses arguably the best squad in the country, their lack of ruthlessness in key moments could ultimately haunt their quest for a first league title in over two decades.
