Arsenal are mocked on social media after incredible stat shows they topped the table for 93 PER CENT of the season – the longest a team has led the standings without winning the title – after Brighton defeat all but ended their hopes
- Arsenal are set to become new Premier League record-breakers after latest loss
- The Gunners previously led the league standings for 93 per cent of the season
- No team has led at the top of the table as Arsenal and not won the title
If things weren’t bad enough for Arsenal supporters after their 3-0 defeat to Brighton on Sunday that virtually handed the Premier League title to Manchester City, then a new statistic won’t offer much condolence.
The Gunners had hoped to end their near 20-year wait for a Premier League crown, with their young stars thriving under Mikel Arteta‘s guidance, but fell off during a crunch period in the season.
They sit four points behind Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City who have a game in-hand and show no signs of slipping up in their bid for a third consecutive Premier League title.
Arsenal had beaten all previously-held expectations before the season began and it has been revealed that the Gunners have led for 93 per cent of the current campaign, according to Sportbible.
That sets a new record for the longest amount of time that a team has sat at the top of the English top-flight standings without going on to win the league.
Mikel Arteta couldn’t hide his disappointment as Arsenal lost to Brighton on Sunday
Arsenal academy product Emile Smith Rowe looked upset at full-time as Arsenal’s title bid was all but ended
Bukayo Saka was unable to inspire Arsenal to a first Premier League title in almost 20 years
Rival supporters mocked the Gunners for their latest achievement that has seen them miss out on a fourth English top-flight title.
One comment poked fun at Arsenal, posting online: ‘Proof they are the original bottle jobbers.’
Another added: ‘Don’t get me wrong, I hate man city, but this is one of the funniest bottle jobs ever.’
The Gunners have broken their own previously held record that saw them lead for 71 per cent of their 2002/03 campaign as Arsene Wenger’s side were overtaken by Manchester United in the latter stages of the season.
United went on to win the Premier League with a five point difference as Arsenal had to accept a second-place finish.
They unsurprisingly also hold the third-place record for the same stat having enjoyed over half the season on top before again being pipped by United.
Liverpool have in more recent times suffered a similar fate with Manchester City beating them to the Premier League crown by just a single point after leading for 51 per cent of the season.
Arsenal round off the unfortunate top five standings after slumping to a fourth-placed finish in 2014 despite spending 48 per cent of the season atop the Premier League tree.
Arsenal also let slip of their Premier League lead in the 2002/03 season
Lifelong Arsenal supporter Piers Morgan reacted to Arsenal’s capitulation by slamming his team for ‘bottling’ the chance to become English champions.
The club’s place in next season’s Champions League has been confirmed and it will be important to finish the season strongly to instil confidence in a new Premier League push next season.
However, Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard cut a dejected figure on Sunday as he admitted the squad has ‘no hope’ left following a recent bad run of results.
Arsenal will play relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest and Wolves during their final two games this season.
