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Manchester City defeated Arsenal in a thrilling encounter at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, cutting the gap to just three points behind the Premier League leaders. If Pep Guardiola’s side manage to win their game in hand against Burnley midweek, they will leapfrog the Gunners into first place on goal difference. It’s a scenario few could have predicted only a month earlier, when Arsenal’s victory over Everton had put them 10 points clear at the top.

As of March 14, Mikel Arteta’s men had a 97.6 percent probability of clinching the title. However, back-to-back 2-1 defeats — first at home to Bournemouth and then away to Manchester City — have left Arsenal facing the very real prospect of finishing runners-up for the fourth straight season. That outcome would be a crushing blow for a squad built at significant expense and widely expected to end the club’s 22-year wait for the Premier League crown.

Although Arsenal still have five matches remaining and City’s schedule appears more challenging, the Gunners’ supporters are understandably anxious. History suggests their team has often faltered when the pressure mounts.

Here’s a look back at the most dramatic title-race collapses in Premier League history...

7. Arsenal 2022-23: “We were punished”

When Arsenal demolished Leeds United 4-1 on April 1, 2023, it seemed certain they were on their way to their first league title since the iconic ‘Invincibles’ season of 2003-04. After a 3-1 loss to Manchester City in February, they had responded with seven consecutive wins, establishing an eight-point lead at the summit.

But the momentum shifted dramatically after they squandered a 2-0 lead at Anfield on April 9, drawing 2-2 with Liverpool. That was followed by two more draws — against West Ham United and bottom-placed Southampton — before a crushing 4-1 defeat to City at the Etihad on April 26.

“We were beaten by a better team,” Arteta admitted on BT Sport after the heavy loss in Manchester. “They were exceptional, and when that happens it’s extremely hard to match that level. We were punished and could have been punished even more. But we won’t give up — there are still five games to go, and anything can happen in this league.”

However, Arsenal’s title chase never recovered. Having led the table after 30 of 38 rounds, they ultimately finished five points behind City. The injury to key defender William Saliba was widely seen as a major factor in their late-season collapse.

6. Manchester United 1997-98: Fergie’s fury

Few can forget the sight of an ecstatic Arsenal supporter named Barry Ferst, captured on camera nearly bursting with joy after Marc Overmars’ winning goal against Manchester United at Old Trafford on March 14, 1998. That strike moved Arsenal to within six points of United, with three games in hand.

A visibly rattled Sir Alex Ferguson downplayed the loss, questioning Arsenal’s ability to maintain their composure. “If they win their games in hand, they’ll go ahead, but they’ll start dropping points towards the end, no question,” he said. “They played well today, but I don’t think they’re as good a football team as us.”

He was wrong. Arsenal didn’t falter, stringing together 10 straight wins to clinch the title with two games to spare. Arsène Wenger capped his first full season in charge by leading the club to a 2-0 win over Newcastle United in the FA Cup final, completing a domestic double.

Ferguson, meanwhile, was left fuming. United had held an 11-point lead after beating Chelsea in February — so much so that one bookmaker had already paid out on them winning the title. But a shock defeat to Sheffield Wednesday and a 1-1 draw at West Ham saw their advantage crumble. For the defending champions, it was a nightmare ending to what had seemed a dominant campaign.

5. Arsenal 2002-03: “Hard to take”

Arsène Wenger bristled at claims that Arsenal’s 2002-03 campaign was a failure. “Of course, we wanted to win the title, but consistency is the hardest thing in football, and we’ve been remarkably consistent,” he insisted. “We lost to a team that spends 50 percent more than us every year. They’ll buy again next year, and we’ve done miracles just to compete.”

While Wenger had a point about Manchester United’s financial muscle, few could deny that Arsenal had collapsed under pressure. After beating Charlton Athletic on March 2 to go eight points clear, they won only two of their next seven matches. A 3-2 home defeat to Leeds United on May 4 effectively ended their title hopes.

During that critical stretch, Arsenal dropped points in a 2-2 draw with United at Highbury, followed by another 2-2 draw at Bolton Wanderers after surrendering a two-goal lead late on. Wenger admitted, “For the first time, it’s out of our hands, which is hard to take.” That blow proved fatal to their title defence.

4. Manchester United 2011-12: Noisy neighbours stun Fergie

After more than 30 years in management, Alex Ferguson thought he had seen it all — until his Manchester United side threw away a 4-2 lead to draw with Everton in a pivotal 2011-12 clash. “It was an absolute giveaway,” he fumed. “We just needed to see it out. To concede four goals at home in such an important match... unbelievable.”

The pain only deepened a week later when United lost 1-0 to Manchester City, allowing their “noisy neighbours” to move top on goal difference with two games remaining. United won their last two matches but lost the title on goal difference after Sergio Aguero’s dramatic stoppage-time winner on the final day.

Ferguson showed grace in defeat, telling Sky Sports, “On behalf of Manchester United, congratulations to our neighbours. It’s a fantastic achievement to win the Premier League.” Beneath that composure, however, was frustration — his team had been eight points clear just weeks earlier before collapsing.

3. Arsenal 2007-08: Gallas’ breakdown at Birmingham

Arsenal’s meltdown at St Andrew’s in February 2008 was triggered by Eduardo’s horrific leg break after a tackle by Martin Taylor. But captain William Gallas’ reaction after Birmingham’s last-minute equaliser turned the afternoon into an infamous episode.

Instead of rallying his teammates, Gallas sat in the centre circle, visibly seething. His behaviour symbolised a team losing its nerve. Arsenal had arrived in Birmingham five points clear after a 10-match unbeaten run but won just one of their next seven, eventually finishing third, four points behind Manchester United. Eduardo’s injury hurt, but Gallas’ public meltdown arguably hurt morale even more.

2. Newcastle United 1995-96: “LOVE IT!”

Kevin Keegan’s passionate post-match rant remains one of the Premier League’s most iconic moments. His Newcastle side — dubbed “The Entertainers” — had thrilled fans all season and led the table by 12 points at one stage.

But as Manchester United closed the gap, Newcastle faltered, most memorably losing 4-3 to Liverpool in an all-time classic at Anfield. After a 1-0 win over Leeds, Keegan snapped in response to Ferguson’s psychological jabs, saying on live TV: “He went down in my estimation when he said that... we’re still fighting for this title, and I’ll tell you, I will love it if we beat them, LOVE IT!”

But United went on to win their final games — including at Middlesbrough — to secure the title. Keegan’s emotional outburst came to symbolise how Ferguson’s mind games had completely unsettled Newcastle’s manager and team.

1. Liverpool 2013-14: “This does not f*cking slip now!”

After a thrilling 3-2 win over Manchester City, Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard gathered his teammates in a huddle and shouted, “This does not f*cking slip now!” The Reds were two points ahead of Chelsea and seven clear of City, though City had two games in hand. The dream of a first league title since 1990 seemed within reach after 11 consecutive wins.

But disaster struck against Chelsea at Anfield on April 27. Gerrard’s slip allowed Demba Ba to score, and despite dominating possession, Liverpool couldn’t break down Jose Mourinho’s ultra-defensive setup. Willian’s late goal sealed a 2-0 defeat.

Worse followed a week later in what became known as “Crystanbul.” Leading 3-0 at Crystal Palace, Liverpool chased more goals to boost their goal difference but ended up conceding three in the final 11 minutes. The 3-3 draw effectively handed the title to City.

As the final whistle blew, a tearful Luis Suarez was consoled by Gerrard, who later admitted that the collapse haunted him for years. “You can’t just sweep it under the carpet,” he told The High Performance Podcast in 2020. “Those memories never leave you.”