From Invincibles to Invisibles When It Matters Most — A Deep Dive Into Arsenal’s Legacy of Late-Season Collapses
It’s happened again. Arsenal have missed out on the Premier League title in the 2024-25 season — making it three straight years of near-glory, only to falter at the finish line. Despite a solid squad and flashes of brilliance, Mikel Arteta’s side couldn’t convert promise into silverware. But is this part of a bigger pattern? Are Arsenal really the biggest bottle jobs in Premier League history?
Let’s look at the evidence.
The Definition of a “Bottle Job”
For those unfamiliar, a “bottle job” refers to a team that has a real chance to win a trophy but fails to do so, often in dramatic or unexpected fashion. Arsenal have become synonymous with this phenomenon, not just in the Arteta era but dating back decades.
2002–03: From Unstoppable to Unwatchable
Under Arsène Wenger, Arsenal came into the 2002–03 season as defending champions and title favourites. They began the campaign with 14 straight Premier League wins and went 30 games unbeaten across two seasons. By March, they were eight points clear of Manchester United.
So confident were bookmakers that Paddy Power paid out early on Arsenal to win the league.
But it all fell apart.
They lost to Blackburn, drew with Aston Villa and United, then blew a 2-goal lead to Bolton. A loss to Leeds United sealed their fate, and they finished five points behind United.
2007–08: Eduardo’s Injury and Gallas’ Breakdown
After losing Thierry Henry to Barcelona, Arsenal began the 2007–08 season strongly, unbeaten until December. But Eduardo’s horrific injury in February led to a psychological collapse.
Captain William Gallas famously sat sulking on the pitch after a 2–2 draw with Birmingham City, and Arsenal drew their next three matches. Losses to Chelsea and United saw them finish third, despite being five points clear in February.
2013–14: Leaders for Longest, Finish Fourth
Arsenal were top of the table longer than any other team that season. Yet, after a 6–0 drubbing by Chelsea and poor results against Liverpool, United, and Stoke City, they fell to fourth.
They did win their last five games, but it wasn’t enough. Fourth place for a team that led for 128 days? Ouch.
2015–16: Leicester Beat Them to It
With Chelsea, United, and Liverpool faltering, it was Arsenal’s title to lose. But they allowed Leicester City — a 5000/1 outsider — to pip them by 10 points. Arsenal’s poor run in early 2016 saw them win only 3 of their final 7 games, costing them the chance.
2022–23: Eight Points Clear. Still No Title.
In what looked like the year, Arsenal had an eight-point lead over Manchester City in January. But after William Saliba’s injury, they won just 3 of their last 9 games. Despite leading for a record 248 days, they ended up second — five points behind City.
2023–24: Strong Finish, But Too Little Too Late
Arsenal stayed in the title race till the final day. Yet, a key December wobble (3 wins in 7 games) and a costly 2–0 home loss to Aston Villa in April handed City the edge. Arsenal finished with 89 points — impressive, but still second place.
2024–25: No More Excuses?
This season looked tailor-made for Arsenal. With Jürgen Klopp gone and City stumbling under Pep Guardiola, Arsenal were expected to finally break the drought. But by March, they were 15 points off new Liverpool boss Arne Slot’s men.
Injuries? Yes. No signings in January? Sure. But yet again, Arsenal fell away when it counted.
Outside the League: More Bottles
- 2006 Champions League Final: 1–0 up against Barcelona, they lost 2–1.
- 2011 League Cup Final: Lost to relegation-bound Birmingham City.
- 2009 FA Cup Semi-final: Threw away a 1–0 lead against Chelsea.
Are They Really the Biggest?
To be fair, clubs like Liverpool have had their own share of near misses (97 and 92-point seasons with no title), but they’ve since bounced back to win the league and Champions League. Chelsea have faltered in domestic cups, but won the UCL in 2021. Manchester United are in a decline, but still win silverware now and then.
As for Tottenham? They might be called bottle jobs too — but they don’t get close enough often enough to really bottle it.
Verdict: Arsenal’s Mentality or Just Misfortune?
You could argue Arsenal are cursed. Or maybe it’s poor planning, bad luck, injuries, refereeing, or a lack of squad depth. But the facts remain: in the biggest moments, Arsenal tend to fall short — and that’s happened again and again over more than two decades.
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