Arsenal ‘hammers’ are proving they can chase runaway Reds down for an all-time Premier League title race

Arsenal’s recent resurgence just goes to show the extent to which the festive period can make or break a season; the Gunners were fourth a matter of a few gameweeks ago, but now they are back within six points of Liverpool in second, two points ahead of third-placed Nottingham Forest and a fairly comfortable four clear of Chelsea in fourth.

Although they were held to disappointing back-to-back draws by Fulham and Everton in mid-December, Arteta’s men are actually unbeaten in nine Premier League matches stretching back to the start of November.

That steady momentum has culminated in three-straight victories in challenging circumstances, with injuries beginning to bite and a sickness bug hitting the squad ahead of the tricky trip to Brentford, as the north Londoners ruthlessly capitalised on the Blues’ sudden drop-off in form to reclaim second place.

With Manchester City (almost) certainly out of the title picture, Chelsea flailing and overachievers Forest (surely) unlikely to keep up their sublime form, Arsenal have firmly re-established themselves as the nearest challengers to Arne Slot’s Reds.

Their absentees against the Bees made that victory on New Year’s Day all the more impressive. In what is undoubtedly one of the toughest away fixtures in the entire division at present, Arsenal came from a goal down to claim what was a statement victory.

To put that into context, this was just the second time in six attempts this season that the Gunners have managed to come from behind to win in the league in 2024-25, despite being without key first-team players in Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Ben White.

Asked whether he’d seen a change in his side’s reaction, Arteta said: “Yes today, and we discussed about that option because it can happen and then the game falls in their hands and they get exactly what they want. But we managed to change it around, the timing of it was really good so we were lucky that we took advantage so early in the second half and it was a different game.”

On whether he believed Arsenal would be stretched ahead of their packed January schedule, the Spaniard added: “When I see the willingness of each individual to play through anything and the versatility that we can create within our idea then the answer is no. But we don’t know if something else happens then we may have other issues. These things happen – in this period there are always throat infections and viruses. We need everybody.”

Arsenal’s somewhat surprising ability to do without Saka – who was forced off after just 24 minutes in the thumping win over Crystal Palace and will be sidelined for two months – has been particularly impressive.

Usually one of the club’s main sources of both goals and attacking creativity, others have stepped up in his absence to fill the significant void over the best part of three games.

Against Brentford, it was 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri who started in Saka’s right-wing role on his full Premier League debut, and he dazzled in west London – causing his marker problems throughout with his Lionel Messi-esque movement and playing a role in the second and third goals as the Bees failed to deal with his dangerous deliveries.

“In that position it wasn’t because of the bug,” Arteta said afterwards. “It was a decision I made because I thought he was the best player to play in the position to start the game and because there was a story there with his debut here. He made his Premier League debut and sometimes that feeling comes in and you feel it is the right one and then who knows?

“Part of that development is patience, managing frustration, managing expectation because you expect that everything is going to go so fast as the previous things happens and it’s not the case. So now we’re building him, he’s already played a lot of games, a lot of minutes for us, the age that he’s got and he fully deserves that.”

Nwaneri certainly isn’t the only one to have impressed of late with Saka unavailable; Gabriels Martinelli and Jesus have conveniently rediscovered their goal-scoring touch in recent weeks – very good news for a team that has collectively struggled for goals at times this season.

Jesus notched his sixth strike in just four games with a poacher’s finish at Brentford, emphatically breaking his goal duck for the 2024-25 campaign. The Gunners can rely on him again, especially with Havertz sidelined by the sickness bug. His compatriot Martinelli – who has been similarly goal-shy – has also enjoyed a timely return to form in attack, netting against both Ipswich and Crystal Palace.

“Very good timing!” Arteta said after the key victory at the Gtech Community Stadium. “Both of them are really important. It is a big quality of our team, to share the goals. Today we have done it again, scoring in three very different ways. Great. That is what we need. The people up front have to be firing, with that feeling, and they are with that feeling right now.

“They are so consistent in the way they train and behave. They want it. Goals are about moments as well, about the feeling and energy the player is in. They are in a good mood right now.”

There is the sense that Arsenal have built some confidence and momentum just at the right moment, as the fixtures begin to pile up. So far in this challenging period, in the face of adversity, they have overcome every obstacle in their way, laying the foundations for a title chase in the second half of the season.

Jesus believes everyone is pulling in the same direction, with an ‘experienced’ squad having learned from the heartache of the previous two title races. “I just want to keep winning and scoring and helping the team, the club, to be there always fighting for the title,” he told TNT Sport.

“I know it’s a long way, we have to look for ourselves and then obviously after, we want the top of the league to drop points. But we have to look at ourselves and do our job like we did today.

“The previous two years were amazing. Obviously, we did not win, but we fought until the end. To play in this competition is already hard, to fight for the title, imagine. I’ve already been there [with City], but I can see this team is experienced now. We have amazing players, and I’m sure we can go there and fight for the title. But it’s still early, and we just need to keep trying to play well and win the games.”

It seems the mettle that Arsenal have shown over the frenetic festive period has convinced Arteta and his players that this year could be different; even if it will be an uphill battle to catch Liverpool – who are six points clear, look formidable and, crucially, have a game in hand – they are poised to chase them down in the second half of the campaign.

Their return to form will have Slot’s Reds looking over their shoulder. “It doesn’t depend on us,” Arteta said recently. “But we have to continue to be like a hammer, be there every day, every day. If someone wins all the matches then we congratulate them and go to the next season. If they don’t – and in history, it hasn’t happened – then we will be there.”

He continued: “We’ve proved that already this season, I’m sure of that. If this had happened last season – the number of games we’ve played with 10 men [after red cards], the injuries in the squad, for sure it would be difficult to be in the stages of the competitions we are in now.

“So, for sure, the team has made another step. The team is evolving and adapting to new circumstances and now we have another one with more games with less players. So let’s face it.”

Hammers are usually made of steel, and the Gunners will need to continue to show this recent steely resolve for the long-term to finally end their long, long wait for another Premier League title.