For a few weeks, Arsenal looked unstoppable. Some of them looked vulnerable. But a common theme has emerged at Arsenal in recent weeks after another poor performance from Brentford.

Arsenal have struggled to cope with Manchester City’s form in the title race since the start of the year. This is the fourth time Mikel Arteta’s side have trailed Manchester City and dropped points in gameweek.

Manchester City swept past Fulham this week, but Arsenal faced their own west London rivals the next day. The day after Manchester City beat Wolves, they lost to Manchester United.

Earlier this year, they failed to really extend their lead over Pep Guardiola’s side at Nottingham Forest just hours after losing in the Manchester derby, and against Liverpool after Manchester City dropped points against Brighton.

Arsenal, meanwhile, looked like a different team when they took the lead. There was no nerve-wracking game against Sunderland ahead of Manchester City’s dramatic game against Liverpool last weekend.

They traveled to Elland Road – another difficult venue and lost star striker Bukayo Saka during the warm-up – which was an easy road ahead of Manchester City’s game against Tottenham.

Arsenal find a way out of Bournemouth on Saturday before Manchester City host Chelsea on Super Sunday. Even when they faced Aston Villa at home, they achieved a result that was missing at Brentford. This happened again the day before the Manchester City game.

Arteta dismissed suggestions that finishing second had an impact on his side. “I don’t think so, I think there have been times this season where we’ve played well behind them and we’ve won games,” he said.

He has a point. Arsenal had narrow wins over Brighton and Everton in December, hours after Manchester City’s victory.

But that was 2025 and now it’s 2026. With the finish line so close, the intensity of the other cup races is starting to increase. More difficult questions will be asked and anxiety about crossing boundaries will increase.

Arteta instead suggested that Arsenal’s recent points drop was linked to a lack of defensive consistency against Brentford, one of the most disorganized teams in the Premier League.

“We lack something against them and you have to defend these situations and even better prevent them,” he said.

“You don’t want to give them any chance or just hope something bad happens and we just weren’t good enough the whole game.”

But does this have to do with the pressure of the game after Manchester City? Arsenal had some moments when they didn’t look like themselves against Brentford.

In the first three minutes, Gabriel received a free pass from Brentford’s corner kick three minutes later, then fouled again and was almost sent off with two yellow cards.

Declan Rice gave the ball away cheaply in possession before Igor Thiago had a great chance in the first half that required a big save from David Raya. It was unlike him and similar to Martin Zubimendi’s error which led to United’s equalizer at the Emirates Stadium in January.

Gabriel Martinelli has now missed out on great chances against Forest and Brentford – having already shown excellence in these high-pressure areas, particularly against Manchester City in September.

The title race is an interesting thing for the players, which has given rise to the idea that despite Arsenal’s excellent depth, it is City’s experience of breaking through the line that is their trump card against Arsenal.

Regardless of whether the schedule matters, Arsenal must quickly resolve their recent “following Manchester City game” problem.

While they face Wolves on Wednesday, the next Premier League match that City can’t handle, Guardiola’s side will play first in the fortnight after that.

Arsenal will face two more London derbies in those games, which will pose similar questions to the one they faced at Brentford.

A week later on Sunday they face Tottenham Hotspur, who could be in for a “new manager bounce” following the exit of Thomas Frank, and a week later Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium – and Liam Rogniel’s side have shown they can create a nerve-wracking spectacle at the Emirates.

In the space of five days, Arsenal had gone from a nine-point lead to a four-point deficit and City were smelling blood. The title race has officially begun.