5 Times Teams Threw Away Significant Leads in Title Races As Arsenal's Dream Crashes

• Arsenal's loss to Brighton on May 14 technically vanquished their title hopes.
• The Gunners' pursuit for a first title since 2004 could be undone in the final games of the season
• It is not unheard of for teams to blow away 'healthy' leads as the season enters its homestretch

The 2022/2023 English Premier League title race is now seemingly over, with Manchester City angling to win a third consecutive title.

For long periods of the season, it was widely thought that it was Arsenal's title to lose after Mikel Arteta turned the fortunes of the Gunners.

There was a time they held an eight-point gap over Pep Guardiola's side. They wouldn't be the first team to bottle such a significant lead should the Citizens pip them to it. Worse has happened.

1. Manchester United - 2011/12

The classic ''Agueeerooo'' moment. Sir Alex Ferguson rarely let up leads during his reign at Old Trafford, but in 2012, he threw away an eight-point lead as Manchester City snatched the title right at the end of the season.

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The Red Devils lost to their rivals at the Etihad, lost away to Wigan and drew 4-4 with Everton in their last 6 games of the season to allow Roberto Mancini's side to steal the title.

2. Arsenal - 2002/03

Well, Arsenal have been in such a situation before. 20 years ago, they had an eight-point lead over Manchester United.

Arsene Wenger's side, however, just won four of their final 9 games, as United won 15 of their last 18 games to win the league by five points. The Gunners would atone for their mistake the next season by going the whole season unbeaten.

3. Liverpool - 2018/19

The modern-day EPL rivalry has seen Jurgen Klopp and Guardiola take the fight to each other's doorstep. The latter has won most of the duels, but perhaps the 2019 one is the sweetest.

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Liverpool were made to wait for a first EPL title after they shockingly blew away a nine-point lead. It all started with a 1-0 defeat to Manchester City before they drew four times in 6 games. City won the title by a single point.

4. Liverpool - 2013/14

Just how unlucky have Liverpool been? With 3 games remaining and Liverpool holding a five-point gap over Manchester City, one would have thought that the Reds would see it through.

However, the infamous Steven Gerrard slip against Chelsea, followed by a three-all draw against Crystal Palace, saw City zoom past Brendan Rodgers' men to win the second EPL title of the Sheikh Mansour era.

5. Newcastle - 1995/96

If you thought an eight-point lead was crazy, wait until you hear how Newcastle blew away a 12-point lead.

The Magpies lost five games and drew two in eight games, with Manchester United winning seven in the same period to close the gap and beat them to the tile.

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Arsenal and Manchester United seasons compared

Sports Brief had earlier reported that former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has come up with an interesting claim, as he suggested United would have had a more successful season than Arsenal if the Gunners end up in second place come May.

In Mikel Arteta’s fourth year in charge of the North Londoners, the Spaniard has performed superbly, and his side are well on course for a first Premier League title since 2004.

At the start of the season, Arteta would surely have been targeting Champions League football, but his side has exceeded expectations and are seriously challenging for the title.