The Gunners have failed to win their last four Premier League matches after the goalless draw with Southampton on Tuesday night
It was supposed to be Arsenal's year, but they have fallen to fourth in the Premier League table after Tuesday night's goalless draw with Southampton at the Emirates Stadium.
The club have been here before - almost every season in the last 10 years - and supporters now fear that the Gunners will blow their chance.
Here are three reasons why it is going wrong for Arsenal...
**THEY HAVE FORGOTTEN HOW TO SCORE
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An angry Arsene Wenger took the rare step of criticising his players on Tuesday night. He did so by lamenting their “very poor” finishing and telling them they are “in a dream” if they expect to win the title without scoring goals.
Arsenal have failed to score in their last three league matches for the first time in seven years and are now winless in four. Against Stoke and Chelsea they created very few chances, while the draw with Southampton can put put down to some awful finishing.
In Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott, Arsenal have two good but streaky strikers. They are as likely to go on a run of six games without scoring as they are to score in each of those games.
Both have looked poor in recent weeks and Wenger will be hoping that Alexis Sanchez is match fit and back in the goals as soon as possible now he has returned from two months out with a hamstring injury.
**WILTING UNDER PRESSURE
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If every season is the same for Arsenal, then that must also incorporate resounding boos from the home supporters after a disappointing result at the Emirates Stadium.
That was the case on Tuesday as the north London club’s demanding fans aired their frustration with the team’s recent form at the full-time whistle, with some unsavoury shouts towards Wenger from the stands.
The negative atmosphere around the Emirates will be hard to escape if Arsenal struggle at home. The moans, groans and howls of anger were inescapable during the Southampton game and must surely have transferred to the players.
The title run-in is now underway and Arsenal fans, who pay the most expensive ticket prices in the country, fear they will miss out on their best opportunity in years to win the title.
That frustration was also evident as Wenger verbally attacked referee Lee Mason in the tunnel and clashed with Southampton manager Ronald Koeman. He has been calm and cool for most of the season so far, but the old temper is coming back as his team start to falter.
**NO ASSISTANCE FOR OFF-FORM OZIL
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Mesut Ozil was one of the star players in the first half of the season, his performances inspiring countless internet memes and ‘how can I assist you?’ twitter posts.
Yet since the turn of the year the German playmaker has failed to either score or provide an assist for the Gunners.
Ozil showed his class against Southampton. He created 10 chances for team-mates and should have scored twice himself in the first-half, only to be twice denied by Saints goalkeeper Fraser Forster.
But it is not quite as effortless as it was in the first four months of the season. It is worrying for Arsenal how much the dip in Ozil’s individual performances have been mirrored by team results, with no-one else able to step up and take responsibility.
Alexis Sanchez made his first league start in more than two months on Tuesday and Arsenal will now look to him to start scoring the goals that will re-ignite their title challenge.
Having looked sharp in the FA Cup win over Burnley on Saturday, the Chilean was a little off the pace against Southampton. Arsenal cannot afford to wait for him to return to his top level.
- Goal