In the modern Premier League a draw can be virtually equated with losing. Dropping two points can be that damaging.
Some draws can be good draws, particularly when it thwarts your opponent getting points or when you’ve been reduced to ten men. The most damaging, however, are when you squander a lead (particularly a two goal lead) or when you concede at the end of a match.
Arsenal were guilty as charged in all of the situations listed above, as well as when they were just not good enough to score. Change five of the results listed below and Arsenal become the champions.
Away at Manchester City. 2-2
A good result as it prevented City from overtaking the Gunners at the end of the season. Many had felt that this fixture would determine the champion, but it ended up being a fight for third place.
City twice managed to get the lead, but Arsenal managed to equalize each time and walked away with a virtual lock on third place.
Giroud broke his scoring slump early in the match and Sanchez scored a beauty when he played a one two with Giroud.
Away at Tottenham. 2-2
A good result in the end, although we should have won this match. Francis Coquelin rashly picked up a red card while we held the lead following an Aaron Ramsey first half goal.
Immediately following the red card, things fell apart. Toby Alderweireld and Harry Kane netted shortly after and one sensed that the scoreline could get ugly.
Arsenal stabilized and then started to attack. Alexis netted a fine goal (which ended a torrid slump he was in) and we almost stole the victory in the end, but Ramsey missed and the referee ignored what should have been a Spurs red card.
Home to Spurs. 1-1
Not a great game for Arsenal. For large portions of the match Spurs dominated and eventually took the lead. They controlled the midfield and seemed to have more energy.
However, Arsenal turned it around. They finally created some pressure and Kieran Gibbs pounced on a loose ball and scored. One had the feeling that they could have gone on and won the match as Spurs looked rocky, but they lacked the poise to finish them off.
Away to West Ham. 3-3
A devastating collapse just before halftime erased a two goal lead. Ozil and Alexis scored in the first half and two minutes before halftime things looked wonderful.
Then came the collapse. Andy Carroll would score twice in the next five minutes and we went in even at halftime. Within seven minutes in the second half he had scored again and we were now behind.
We managed to equalize twenty minutes from the end thanks to Koscielny. From that point on we looked the most likely to score, but we couldn’t make the breakthrough (once again) and had to settle for a draw.
Away at Liverpool. 3-3
Twice Firmino scored sensational goals and twice we equalized, first through Ramsey and then through Giroud. Liverpool had played their hearts out, but the score was even at halftime.
Then we scored the go-ahead goal through Giroud. From that point on we seemed happy to soak up the pressure and hit them on the counter.
We didn’t counter effectively and, as it turned out, we didn’t defend effectively either. In extra-time Joe Allen smashed home a headed pass from Benteke and we dropped valuable points. Not a good result.
Home to Southampton. 0-0
Having been pounded by the Saints at their stadium, one expected a spirited response to erase that memory. That didn’t happen.
For most of the match Arsenal labored ineffectively to break down the Saints. In the end, they couldn’t. This was one of our poorest displays of the season.
Away at Sunderland. 0-0
When you’re one of the top teams in the league and you play one of the league’s worst, you expect to get a result. Yes, Sunderland were battling hard to avoid relegation, but a great team should find a way to win.
We couldn’t break them down and we were unable to create any great chances either. If you want to win the title, you need to beat the teams at the bottom of the table.
Home to Crystal Palace. 1-1
Another bottom feeder, another draw. A dominating first half performance was capped by a fine goal from Alexis.
In the second half, Arsenal took their foot off the gas and couldn’t score the second goal. Cue up Bolassie, who hits a speculative drive at the near post and it flies in, courtesy of Petr Cech’s rustiness.
What was most concerning was the inability to respond. They had ten minutes, but never really threatened. A really poor result.
Away to Norwich. 1-1
This result came in the midst of our November slump. An early Ozil goal was erased by halftime by a Norwich equalizer.
Arsenal labored ineffectively the entire second half, but couldn’t overcome the lowly Norwich, who would be relegated by year’s end.
Home to Liverpool. 0-0
Aaron Ramsey had a perfectly good goal ruled offside and Alexis would be denied by the woodwork, as Arsenal failed to beat Liverpool.
The team lacked enough precision for this early season encounter against a struggling Liverpool and dropped two valuable points. Brendan Rodgers would take some solace from the result which would delay his departure from the club a little longer.