Is the fear of losing, or drawing, turning up the pressure valve on players who will know this season represents their best chance of winning the title to such an extent they are now struggling to close out victories?
It is a highly pressurised environment. This season there are no excuses. It may just be now or never.
Arteta invariably cuts an agitated figure on the sidelines. He recently urged Arsenal‘s fans to “jump on the fun boat”, but does not look as if he is having fun at the moment, even though he is leading a team top of the table and insists “the present is beautiful”.
He says he will be “keeping calm, keeping my eyes open, my ears open, and understanding what the players need to give their best”.
Arteta added: “We have to live the present. What we did in the past is great, but we have to live the present, and the present is beautiful.
“We are exactly where we want to be in every competition. We need to earn it, like we’ve done in the last seven or eight months.”
Getting to this position, and it is a healthy one, is another factor in the equation. Are the physical demands starting to take their toll on players?
Martin Zubimendi, outstanding since his summer move from Real Sociedad, is one such example.
He has seen more Premier League action than any other Arsenal outfield player, figuring in all 27 games with 26 starts, playing 2,270 minutes in his first season in the English top flight.
Eberechi Eze has almost been a bystander in comparison, despite the fanfare that greeted his £60m arrival from Crystal Palace in August, stolen away from Spurs at the 11th hour.
Since scoring a hat-trick in the 4-1 win against Spurs in November, Eze has featured in all 15 of Arsenal‘s league games but has made only four starts and played 360 minutes.
The wider questions, however, surround Arsenal‘s temperament to withstand the pressure that is suddenly closing in on them, an ominous reminder of previous failings.
Arsenal are still in a superb position in every competition – positions they would have instantly signed up for in August. And their cause could be helped the return of key duo Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz.
If the Gunners win at Spurs, doubts will be eased, but one thing is beyond question.
This north London derby is now a completely different proposition from a fortnight ago.
