Troy Deeney warns Arsenal fans about title challenge
Troy Deeney has risked a backlash from Arsenal fans by suggesting they could end up costing their club the Premier League title, reports BritPanorama.
The Gunners go into their showdown with Leeds today seeking to return to winning ways in the top flight after a disappointing loss to Manchester United last weekend, where Michael Carrick’s side secured all three points following goals from Bryan Mbeumo, Patrick Dorgu, and Matheus Cunha.
This defeat came after consecutive draws against Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, both of whom are facing challenging campaigns. Despite having finished second in the last three seasons, Arsenal currently sits four points clear of Manchester City and Aston Villa at the top of the table.
The atmosphere inside the Emirates turned hostile during the match against United, with many supporters expressing frustration at the team’s inability to secure a winner. Now, writing for The Sun, Deeney has suggested that if Arsenal fails to secure their first league title since 2004, the blame could rest with their panicking fanbase.
“If Arsenal do manage to blow this season’s title race, their panicking fans will have to take a big chunk of the blame,” he said. “This is an exceptional Gunners team, there is no doubt about that. On the pitch, they have all the elements to seal a first title in 22 years. But at the Emirates, there is an odd vibe about everything—a sense that everyone needs convincing and is ready to doubt the second things go wrong.”
Deeney also reflected on a previous match, noting how anxiety spread through the stands at the sight of Brighton pulling a goal back when Arsenal looked comfortable. “That will have a real impact on the pitch; they will feel the tension and anxiety, and that—more than Manchester City or any other challenger—is now the biggest test for this squad,” he added.
He acknowledged the unique pressure on Arsenal’s fanbase, stating, “This is an Arsenal fanbase that, after so long without a title, is not used to proper success, does not understand that this little run is not the end and cannot seem to hold its nerve.” Deeney emphasised that while Arsenal is favoured to win every game left in the campaign, the players and fans must overcome their shared insecurities.
Looking ahead to the match against Leeds, Deeney suggested that a failure to win would only intensify the pressure on the Gunners. “The starting point of getting back on track domestically is Leeds at Elland Road today,” he remarked. “They should be travelling up expecting to win; the squad will be, but who knows with these fans?”
He concluded by noting the stakes: “Should there be a draw—and if Pep Guardiola’s City were to win at Tottenham—just imagine how much this lot would be bricking it. The only solution to rid that hideous feeling Arsenal fans have in their stomachs when things don’t go exactly to plan is to win the title—no one in the stands will rest until it is done.”
In the end, it remains a balancing act for Arsenal—a talented squad fighting for glory amid a backdrop of wavering confidence from supporters. The pressure is palpable, yet so is the potential for triumph.
