Arsenal fans are beginning to get that familiar sinking feeling.
Having previously lost just one Premier League game in nine months, the Gunners have now suffered two defeats in a matter of five days. Furthermore, they are now a disheartening nine points adrift of table topping Chelsea.
Statistics are even suggesting that Petr Cech has gone off the boil. In fact, the club’s number one shot stopper has hit such a low that he’s on one of the worst runs of his entire career.
Away trips to Everton and Manchester City in the space of a week was always going to be difficult for Arsenal.
Nevertheless, even the most pessimistic of Gooners would have anticipated at least some sort of points haul, no matter how small.
However, with two consecutive 2-1 defeats, Arsene Wenger’s men have gained nothing from a potential six points. Considering they led in both games, it makes the two losses all the more painful.
Furthermore, their only prior league defeat came on the opening weekend to free-scoring Liverpool. Not only is their unbeaten run now at an end, but in absolute tatters.
Surely though, if Arsenal can draw positives from anywhere within their squad, it would come from the ever reliable Cech, right? On recent form, absolutely not.
As highlighted by the research of Goal.com, the 34-year-old is on his biggest run without a clean sheet in his Premier League career.
Despite having played more than 400 times in England’s top division, recent games have seen Cech go eight matches without a clean sheet for the very first time.
The last time the Czech international kept every shot out was in Arsenal’s goalless draw with Middlesbrough on October 22.
A solid first-half performance against City had looked to put that run to an end though, but Leory Sane begged to differ. The German international scored just two minutes into the second-half to leave Cech frustrated.
That’s not all though. The 34-year-old’s reputation as a prolific penalty saver is also under prominent threat.
Not only has Cech not saved a single one of the seven spot kicks he’s faced at Arsenal, but he has guessed the wrong way every time.
Therefore, Arsenal have hit such a snag recently that even their most reliable player is starting to struggle. It suddenly doesn’t bode well for the Gunners’ title challenge nor their seemingly flimsy defence.