ARSENAL fans have bemoaned their April “curse” as another season threatens to go off the rails in the month.
Defeat in the Champions League to Bayern Munich last night saw the Gunners dream of making a first semi-final since 2009 left in tatters.
That followed a 2-0 loss at home to Aston Villa which saw Manchester City regain the advantage in this season’s title race, another dream of the Gunners having not won it in 20 years.
However, a consistent reality of the last three seasons has seen results for Mikel Arteta‘s side crumble in the month of April.
When Arsenal were gunning for the top four in 2022, a three-game stretch at the start of the month saw them lose to Crystal Palace, Brighton and Southampton.
And despite bouncing back to win their final two games of the month, in the end it would cost them as two back-to-back defeats in May allowed Tottenham to pip them to fourth.
Meanwhile, last season saw Arsenal in a title race, but three draws on the spin against Liverpool, West Ham and Southampton before a defeat to Manchester City saw them relinquish their top spot.
And history in threatening to repeat itself this season.
FANS hailed Thomas Tuchel’s tactical tweak that “took Bukayo Saka out of the game” in their Champions League victory against Arsenal.
With regular full-back Alphonso Davies suspended, Tuchel deployed TWO full backs in his place in the shape of Noussair Mazraoui and Raphael Guerreiro.
The duo doubled up on Saka, with Mazraoui at left-back and Guerreiro playing higher up, offering him protection from midfield.
And the plan could not have worked out any better with Saka almost totally nullified.
One fan noted: “Thomas Tuchel with a tactical masterclass today starting two full-backs on the left wing to keep Bukayo Saka locked down.
“Through 75 minutes, Saka has 0 shots and 0 chances created. Just 19 accurate passes & 32 total touches…”
Tuchel himself explained: “You have to defend a lot on that side. Arsenal’s right side is where most attacks usually start. That’s their danger side. That’s why we chose Rafa (Guerreiro).”
Read more on Tuchel’s genius here.
Arsenal, who are in a title race and the Champions League quarter-finals, have seen their form slip up massively.
Despite a wins over Brighton and Luton at the start of the month, this followed a 2-2 draw at the Emirates against Bayern Munich, before a 2-0 loss to Aston Villa and 1-0 loss to Bayern yesterday.
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Reacting to the deja vu results, one fan said online: “Arsenal in April, spooky times.”
A second said: “April curse continues.”
A third added: “Football heritage.”
Another said: “Arsenal is the biggest April fool.”
Arsenal have three games left in the month to try and dispel their curse and get their season back on track, with those matches coming against Wolves, Chelsea and Tottenham.
Here's how Arsenal have performed in the April over the last three seasons.
2021/22
Crystal Palace (A) 3-0
Brighton (H) 1-2
Southampton (A) 1-0
Chelsea (A) 2-4
Man Utd (H) 3-1
2022/23
Leeds (H) 4-1
Liverpool (A) 2-2
West Ham (A) 2-2
Southampton (H) 3-3
Man City (A) 4-1
2023/24*
Luton (H) 2-0
Brighton (A) 0-3
Bayern Munich (H) 2-2
Aston Villa (H) 0-2
Bayern Munich (A) 1-0
*Wolves, Chelsea and Tottenham still to play
Overall April record in last three years:
Played: 15, Won: 5, Drew: 4, Lost: 6
