Arsenal 1-1 Brighton (31 August 2024)
This was the match that foreshadowed much of what would hinder Arsenal for the rest of the season. The Gunners took the lead through Kai Havertz and looked on course to continue their perfect start to the season before Declan Rice picked up a needless second yellow card for kicking the ball away – see Leandro Trossard two games later at Manchester City – before Joao Pedro levelled in the second half. Arsenal have gone on to top the league in red cards (five) and have drawn nine games from winning positions – the most of any team since 2008.
Bournemouth 2-0 Arsenal (19 October 2024)
Another red card cost Arsenal as their October trip to the south coast ended in their first defeat of the season. William Saliba was dismissed in the first half before two late goals gave impressive Bournemouth victory. Mikel Arteta was without the injured Bukayo Saka, whose longer absence later in the campaign would cost the Gunners further.
Newcastle 1-0 Arsenal (2 November 2024)
Newcastle came into this game in 10th and without a win in five Premier League games but dominated Arsenal in the early kick-off at St James’ Park. The result allowed Liverpool to open up an eight-point gap at the top after the Reds had rescued a point at Emirates Stadium the previous weekend.
Arsenal 2-2 Aston Villa (18 January 2025)
After defeat to Newcastle in November, Arsenal would not lose again until late February. In this time, however, they drew five times, the last of which against Aston Villa feeling the most damaging. The Gunners led 2-0 at the hour mark but conceded twice in eight minutes, before seeing a late Kai Havertz strike ruled out for handball, missing the chance to move within four points of the top.
Arsenal 0-1 West Ham (22 February 2025)
Arsenal’s most recent defeat felt terminal. Arteta’s team could have closed the gap to Liverpool to five points with 12 games to go and put pressure on the Reds’ visit to Manchester City. Instead, they struggled at home against lowly West Ham and had their misery compounded by Myles Lewis-Skelly’s second-half red card. In the league, the Gunners have not fully recovered, drawing five of their eight league matches since.
