<figure id="attachment_3285624" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3285624" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-3285624" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/fcd56563-mikel-arteta-19022026.webp" alt="" width="1600" height="1000" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3285624" class="wp-caption-text">Having wasted commanding leads in two previous title fights with City, Mikel Arteta&#8217;s men are in danger of being haunted by the ghost of their past failures. (EPA Images pic)</figcaption></figure>
WOLVERHAMPTON: Mikel Arteta admitted Arsenal deserve criticism for the self-inflicted wounds that threaten to ruin their Premier League title bid after the leaders blew a two-goal lead in Wednesday&#8217;s 2-2 draw at rock-bottom Wolves.
Goals from Bukayo Saka and Piero Hincapie put Arsenal on course for a victory that would have lifted them seven points clear at the top.
But Arteta&#8217;s side were caught cold in the closing stages at snowy Molineux, giving second-placed Manchester City renewed hope in the title race.
Hugo Bueno&#8217;s superb strike reduced the deficit before teenage debutant Tom Edozie punished a mix-up between Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya and centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes to equalise deep into stoppage time.
For a second successive league game, the Gunners had failed to hold onto a lead following their 1-1 draw at Brentford last Thursday.
City are just five points behind Arsenal and have a game in hand on their rivals, as well as a home game against the Gunners in April.
&#8220;Incredibly disappointed. We need to accept it. We need to be critical of ourselves because it was not good enough,&#8221; Arteta said.
&#8220;In the league, it is the reality that we have not been consistent over the last few months.&#8221;
Having wasted commanding leads in two previous title fights with City, Arteta&#8217;s men are in danger of being haunted by the ghost of their past failures.
The north Londoners have dropped 11 points in eight league games in 2026.
&#8216;We paid the price&#8217;
Clearly furious with Arsenal&#8217;s failure to finish off a Wolves team with just one win in 27 league games this season, Arteta struggled to keep his emotions in check.
&#8220;Very tough to accept it. In the second half we did not perform in the way we should and the way we require to win a Premier League match,&#8221; he said.
&#8220;Certain basics we have to do, we did them so poorly one after the other. And then you have no dominance, no control in the game.
&#8220;It is better not to judge it. We are all too emotional about it. You have to take the hit because we deserve it.
&#8220;It is very easy with emotion to say things that can damage the team. Everyone wants to do their best.&#8221;
Arsenal looked increasingly nervous as the minutes ticked down against Wolves in a clear sign that the league leaders are feeling the pressure of their bid for a first English title since 2004.
Now they must find a way to recover from a significant setback in time for Sunday&#8217;s north London derby at Tottenham, which is followed by a crucial home game against Chelsea on March 1.
&#8220;You have to go through tough periods. Today at the last minute, we paid the price. We have to do basic things much better than we have done,&#8221; Arteta said.
Arsenal&#8217;s frustration boiled over at the final whistle, with Raya and Gabriel exchanging heated words before Gunners striker Gabriel Jesus shoved Wolves&#8217; Yerson Mosquera to the turf.
Asked how he would stop his players from cracking as the pressure mounts, Arteta said, &#8220;By staying very close to them and reminding them how good they are.
&#8220;You have to stand up. When you have a moment of difficulty, we have to show how much we want it and how good we are.&#8221;

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