Will Arsenal 'Bottle It'?- Title Race Sentiments
Updated July 9, 2026
With the Premier League season entering its final 10 games, the title race is trending towards a thrilling conclusion. Arsenal currently lead the table with 67 points from 29 games, with Manchester City hot on their heels on 60 points having played one game less.
The narrative however, seems to be focused upon whether Arsenal will once again 'bottle it' (or 'choke' in more universal parlance). On multiple occasions, Mikel Arteta's side have been well-placed to win the club's first Premier League title since the 'Invincibles' won their last title in 2004. But on each occasion they have have come up short, finishing as runner-up in each of the last four seasons. In turn, they have developed a reputation as 'bottlers', a team that always gets close, but can never cross the line in first.
This season the Gunners are once again well-placed to end their title drought, but until their comprehensive 4-1 win over Tottenham in the North London Derby, it looked like the wheels were beginning to fall off once again. Defeat at home to Manchester United, followed by draws against Brentford and relegation-threatened Wolves saw Arsenal's lead at the top of the table cut dramatically by a resurgent Manchester City since the turn of the year. So are the Gunners going to fall at the final hurdle once again?
Bookmakers don't appear to think so. Arsenal remain the bookies' favorites for the title at -450, with City their closest challengers at +470. But fan sentiment differs strongly. Despite the North London Derby win, there is a palpable fear of another collapse among Arsenal fans. Reddit sentiments point to a widespread belief that serial winners City will chase down an Arsenal side with a track record of folding when the going gets tough.
As a bettor, here at ATS we would back Manchester City, but not because Arsenal are 'bottlers'. Under Pep Guardiola, Manchester City have been relentless in the second half of the season, winning a minimum of 14 of their last 19 games every year (excluding their poor 2024/25 season). This form has been good enough to erase gaps of as much as 8 points, and with the Citizens building up a head of steam once more before welcoming Arsenal to the Etihad Stadium in April, you can expect Guardiola's men to overthrow an under pressure Arsenal and break their hearts once more.
