‘Entitlement’ Deemed a ‘Dangerous Mentality’

The conclusion of Saturday’s home draw against Everton was met with scattered boos from spectators. This outcome was perceived as a missed opportunity for three straightforward points, especially given that Liverpool, a rival team, also lost ground. A prevalent sentiment surrounding Arsenal currently involves the term ‘should’, particularly concerning their difficulties against teams in the lower half of the league standings. Fundamentally, the Gunners are expected to defeat such opponents, considering the caliber of their squad and their potential style of play. However, the term ‘should’ carries an additional implication in this context. For Arsenal to secure the title, they ‘should’ be defeating teams such as Everton on their home ground. An implicit feeling of entitlement suggests that victories against less formidable teams are assured, and that Arsenal’s primary focus should be on major matches. This is a “dangerous mentality to have”. It is important to recall that this marks only the second season in which Arsenal can genuinely be regarded as title contenders. The perception that they ‘should’ secure victories merely by appearing is not an attitude characteristic of champions. Arsenal appears not to have grasped that being a title contender means becoming the hunted. It entails being targeted and facing defensive strategies, such as low blocks and defensive football, employed solely to thwart them, regardless of the means. During Saturday’s match, the Gunners registered 13 shots and maintained 76% possession, yet still conceded two points. The near success in securing the title over the last two seasons may have led supporters to believe that only minor adjustments are required to achieve victory. However, in elite sports, where margins are exceedingly narrow, a one percent improvement signifies more than just a few modifications. It might necessitate a complete re-evaluation and a fresh start. While the draw against Everton does not signify the conclusion of Arsenal’s title aspirations, it has undeniably introduced an element of uncertainty. A question arises: is the current squad and its present performance inherently limited to being just one percent short of the title?