Arsenal league form 'isn't as bad as it feels' before crunch game at Man City

Former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha has said Arsenal's league form "isn't as bad as it feels" after Saturday's home defeat by Bournemouth and the Premier League title is "still very much in their hands".

Despite the loss, Arsenal are six points clear of Manchester City, who have a game in hand. The two title contenders meet on Sunday at Etihad Stadium.

"The idea of [Arsenal] 'bottling it' is based on the last few years and what the expectations were [in those seasons]," said Onuoha on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club.

"This last run of games has been interesting from an Arsenal perspective because we are talking about [results] across three different competitions.

"They lost the League Cup final, lost in the FA Cup and now lost a league game. [Before Bournemouth] the last league loss was against Manchester United in January, so the momentum they have in the league itself it isn't as bad as it feels.

"The league is still very much in their hands and Mikel Arteta understands that, but for me, it is the nature of some of the performances and not necessarily the results. Even in some of their wins, it has been a bit uncertain.

"How the team feels is what matters. Do they feel good and like it is a blip? Or do they feel like something is happening and they are starting to doubt themselves?

"The moment a team has doubt themselves, that's when the opposition gain belief and play them in a different manner as a consequence.

"Arsenal's players are good enough to get through this spell and go to the Etihad on Sunday and get a positive result for themselves. But the difference is Manchester City aren't in the Champions League in midweek. Arsenal have got something to deal with before they can even look ahead to the next game, whereas City are planning for that game right now.

"That, I think, in some ways is an advantage [to City]."

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[BBC]

[BBC]