“Questions arise about Arsenal’s ability to win the title after Ramsdale’s confusing performance.” | By Jonathan Wilson

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Watching Arsenal score their last-minute goal felt similar to learning that a former friend has been granted a pardon. While you may feel happy for them, you can’t help but wonder how they ended up in a situation that required a pardon in the first place.

In the final outcome, this was ultimately a tale of perseverance and credit should be given to Aaron Ramsdale for his response after allowing Brentford to score an equalizer. He made two impressive saves in the second half against Ivan Toney and Nathan Collins. While Arsenal will also receive praise for their overall persistence and ability to secure a win, this match only raised doubts about their inconsistency and the potential impact on their pursuit for the title. When they are performing well, Arsenal is exceptional, but during rough patches, they may not be quite up to par.

Criticism towards Arsenal for not winning the title race last season may have been unjustified due to the fact that Manchester City has better resources. However, there are still memories of matches against Liverpool and West Ham where Arsenal appeared to be in control but ultimately crumbled when faced with challenges. While it is not easy to pinpoint a singular cause, it could be argued that losses to West Ham and Fulham during the holiday season this year played a role. What stood out in both matches was Arsenal’s inability to maintain their strong start and dominate against resilient opponents.

However, following seven consecutive victories in the league after their trip to Dubai in January, where they scored 31 goals and only conceded three, the team’s morale was soaring and Arsenal was on a victorious streak. With their confident mindset, they were a formidable force to go up against in their latest match, scoring an early 1-0 lead and dominating the game. The only slight sense of hesitation was the possibility that their dominant first half performance may not secure them a definitive win.

Following this, the examination. It is debatable whether David Raya is an improvement over Ramsdale. The importance of having competition for positions may outweigh the perceived necessity for a sense of security that former goalkeepers tend to value. Raya’s loan from Brentford has brought increased attention to the goalkeeper position. While Raya’s performance may have lessened some of the scrutiny on the position, his inability to play against his parent club redirected the spotlight onto Ramsdale. This was Ramsdale’s first appearance since the FA Cup loss to Liverpool in January.

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During the match, when he kicked the ball to Yoann Wissa for a surprise goal for Brentford – last week Wissa scored an impressive goal with an overhead kick, saying it was for “football lovers”; this time, his goal may have been for those who appreciate comedy – it sparked a big discussion. Would he have made such a mistake if he was playing regularly? Who knows? You can use any hypothetical scenario to support your argument. But in reality, not only was Ramsdale’s hesitation key, but also Arsenal’s overall loss of energy after a break for Kristoffer Ajer’s treatment. It seemed like they thought the first half was already over.

An expected victory turned into a harrowing possibility. This situation resembled West Ham’s struggles from last season. It’s a scene that has played out numerous times before. Arsenal, in desperate need of a goal, became increasingly disorganized as the crowd at the Emirates grew more and more angry. The team’s attempts to replicate the successful Reiss Nelson Protocol failed as memories of a similar defeat against Bournemouth last season faded. The opposing team fought hard and tried to disrupt Arsenal’s play. The fans begged for penalties and cards, while their shots were blocked by defenders and one almost hit the goalpost. Hope slowly diminished as frustration took over. However, there was a surprise this time: a cross from Ben White, the same player who assisted the first goal, and Kai Havertz’s winning goal.

What’s the best way to evaluate a game like this? Should we commend Arsenal for successfully completing the task? Or should we reprimand them for losing a position of such power?

However, this pattern is similar to last season. The victories against Aston Villa and Bournemouth, achieved through late goals, were seen as a display of Arsenal’s character and perhaps even a sign of destiny, similar to Liverpool’s emotionally draining wins this season. However, in reality, it was a sign of their vulnerability that was later revealed. One can only rely on last-minute heroics so many times before they dry up.

Recently, Arsenal has not had to count on these goals. This could be seen as a type of goal that strengthens the idea of a dream coming true, but at the same time, the lack of composure after conceding and allowing themselves to get rattled is concerning. Is earning three crucial points a positive sign or a troubling indication of a tendency to become overwhelmed under pressure? The answer may lie in whether they continue on to win the league. As for evaluating this game, it may be too early to determine.

Source: theguardian.com