Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta believes his squad is in the perfect position to defy a long-standing Premier League jinx: the club’s inability to convert early-year league leads into a title. Despite starting the new calendar year at the top of the table, Arsenal are determined to finish what they started.
A draw for Manchester City against Sunderland in the early hours of Friday (WIB) has left the Gunners four points clear of their nearest rivals, halfway through the season. This gap gives Arsenal an opportunity to extend their lead when they visit Bournemouth on Sunday, January 4, 2026, while City will only face Chelsea 24 hours later.
However, Arsenal may be without influential midfielder Declan Rice, who continues to struggle with a knee injury.
Ready to Make History
The last time Arsenal won the league was 2004, during the legendary “Invincibles” season, when the team actually started the year trailing Manchester United.
Since then, Arsenal have frequently led the standings at the start of a year — in 2008, 2014, 2016, 2022, and 2023 — but have consistently failed to maintain that lead through to the end of the season.
Arteta admits he wasn’t initially aware of this pattern, but he insists that the 4-1 victory over Aston Villa at the end of 2025 demonstrated the squad’s readiness to create history.
“Let’s break it,” Arteta declared.
“I think that’s what the players show every day in training and in matches. You can see their passion. You can see their energy, their desire. That’s what we need. There are still five months ahead. We take it day by day. Enjoy the process of being in this position and go after it.”
Embracing the Pressure
Arteta also emphasized that the players must embrace the pressure of a title race, particularly after finishing as runners-up for three consecutive seasons.
When asked if the team needed to do anything differently this year, Arteta answered simply:
“Win more games, that’s it.”
“I think from January to January, over the past three years, we’ve earned more points than any other team in the league. So what we need is more points, plain and simple. We have to win more games and improve. That’s the only way. It’s a privilege to be here and in the position we are now.”
Declan Rice Injury Update
Arsenal had hoped that Rice’s knee swelling would subside in time for the Bournemouth fixture, and his condition is being continuously evaluated.
Arteta dismissed claims that the injury could have been avoided if Rice had been substituted earlier after a collision in the victory over Brighton last week.
“No, no, no,” said the Spanish manager.
“He was able to continue. That’s normal. Sometimes you take a knock, and during the match, with adrenaline and a warm body, you can push through. Then the body reacts, sometimes more than expected, unfortunately.”
Moving Forward
As Arsenal prepare for the upcoming clash with Bournemouth, the focus remains on maintaining momentum, managing injuries, and continuing to secure victories. With their lead over Manchester City and other title challengers, the Gunners have a real opportunity to rewrite history, ending the cycle of early-year table dominance falling short at the season’s end.
Mikel Arteta’s challenge will be keeping his squad focused, healthy, and confident, while navigating the pressure that comes with leading the Premier League halfway through the campaign. If they succeed, Arsenal could finally break a decade-long curse and reclaim their place as England’s top team.
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