“Second again?” Premier League fans pile on as Arsenal’s title dream starts to crack

Last Updated on 12 April 2026

Arsenal’s grip on the Premier League title is loosening at the worst possible time. On Saturday, Mikel Arteta’s side suffered a desperate 2-1 home defeat to Bournemouth at the Emirates, a result that left the Gunners shell-shocked and social media ablaze.

Then, 24 hours later, Manchester City delivered a thumping 3-0 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge to pour further salt into Arsenal wounds.

The “bottling” narrative has never been louder, and City fans are absolutely loving it.

X goes wild: “Arsenal are bottling the league”

The internet didn’t wait long. As the full-time whistle blew at the Emirates, the “bottling” narrative immediately flooded X.

Rival fans, City supporters chief among them, gleefully piled on with even Chelsea fans delighted with their loss to City.

The mockery then spilled into Stamford Bridge itself the following day: cameras panned to a City supporter pretending to drink from an Arsenal bottle after a goal. It was a not-so-subtle jab at the idea that Arteta’s side are ‘bottling’ the lead.

Visiting Bournemouth fans could even be heard chanting “second again” at the final whistle, as per Sky Sports, a reference to Arsenal’s three consecutive runner-up finishes.

Manchester City now in control of the Premier League title race

The math is stark. City’s win at the Bridge cut Arsenal’s lead at the top of the Premier League table to just six points.

Crucially, Pep Guardiola’s men have a game in hand and a full week to prepare for the Gunners’ visit to the Etihad Stadium, while Arsenal must also navigate the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Sporting CP.

Win that and City would trail by just three points with their remaining fixtures looking very manageable. Arsenal have now lost three of their last four games in all competitions, and the momentum has unmistakably shifted to the blue half of Manchester.

If they do beat Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium, the title will genuinely be City’s to lose.