The Premier League title race was always going to test Arsenal. After a 1-1 draw away to Brentford, that examination may have just intensified for Mikel Arteta and his squad.

On paper, the north London club remain in a commanding position. They sit four points clear at the summit of the Premier League, having suffered just three defeats all season. Yet with Manchester City and Pep Guardiola applying relentless pressure behind them, that advantage feels fragile rather than decisive.

With 12 matches remaining, this is the moment where belief, composure and history collide. For Arsenal, the challenge is as psychological as it is tactical.

Arsenal arrived at Brentford knowing victory could transform the narrative of the title race. Three points would have moved them six clear. A subsequent win over Wolves before City’s next fixture could have opened up a nine-point cushion.

Instead, the draw leaves the gap at four. Manageable, yes. Comfortable, no.

Part of the tension stems from recent precedent. Manchester City have built their modern dominance on relentless spring surges. Title-winning campaigns have often been forged through extraordinary winning runs between March and May. Arsenal supporters know this story all too well, having finished second in three successive seasons.

The sense of déjà vu is difficult to ignore.

Statistics add to the unease. Across the past five campaigns, Arsenal have only once won 10 of their final 12 league matches in a season. In those same years, they have never outperformed the eventual champions in the closing dozen fixtures. The run-in, historically, has not been their strongest suit.

That context makes dropped points feel heavier.

After the final whistle at the Gtech Community Stadium, the focus turned to mentality. Could the pressure now begin to erode Arsenal’s composure?

Arteta was clear in his response.

“That’s what we have to do. We are going to be willing and preparing to win every single match and the only thing that we can do is focus on that and raise the levels collectively and individually to be better than the opponent every week. It’s just the things that we have to do, that’s the most important thing.”

The message was simple: control what you can control.

Midfielder Declan Rice echoed that sentiment, acknowledging the emotional swings of a campaign that has rarely stood still.

“This is a rollercoaster of a season. You can’t be naive to think this is going to be easy. We are playing against the best teams week in, week out. We have to keep pushing and believing in ourselves, controlling the controllables.”

He added: “We have to block out the outside noise. We have done that really well. People are going to talk up the title race and Arsenal but we have a really calm group.”

Internally, the tone remains measured. Externally, the noise grows louder by the week.

The pressure intensified further after Manchester City’s dramatic victory over Liverpool, sealed by a late Erling Haaland penalty. Combined with their midweek win over Fulham, the champions reminded everyone that they remain capable of accelerating without warning.

Only days earlier, it had appeared Arsenal might extend their lead to nine points. Instead, the cushion shrank to three before the Brentford stalemate nudged it back to four.

Such fine margins define title races.

Arteta dismissed suggestions that playing after City creates additional anxiety.

“I don’t think so. We have played well after them a few times this season and we have won games.”

Yet the psychological reality of chasing or being chased by Guardiola’s side cannot be understated. City possess a proven track record. Arsenal are attempting to rewrite theirs.

If momentum is vital in the run-in, squad availability is equally significant. Arsenal travelled to Brentford without William Saliba, absent through illness. His partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes has been foundational to the league’s meanest defensive record.

The numbers underline his importance. Since the start of the 2022-23 campaign, Arsenal boast a 68.6 percent win rate in Premier League matches with Saliba involved, averaging 2.3 points per game. Without him, that drops sharply to a 42.1 percent win rate and 1.6 points per game.

Those are not marginal differences. They are defining ones.

Further forward, Kai Havertz is sidelined once more with a muscle injury, frustratingly soon after returning from a long-term knee issue. Disruption at either end of the pitch during the decisive phase of the season is far from ideal.

Arteta also introduced Viktor Gyokeres and Piero Hincapie into the starting XI at Brentford. While squad depth is essential, recent trends suggest heavy rotation carries risk. Arsenal have won just two of their last seven Premier League fixtures in which they made four or more changes from the previous game.

Consistency, particularly in defensive structure, has been central to their success. Alter it too often and fluency can suffer.

Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown struck a defiant tone in the aftermath.

“That’s what people were shouting at me as I was coming off the pitch, ‘Man City are coming to get you’, but at the end of the day Arsenal are four points clear.”

He added: “You get knocked down, you get up again. Let’s see who the fighters are and let’s see who is going to win this.”

There is truth in that perspective. Arsenal remain leaders. The advantage is theirs to defend.

On TNT Sports, former striker Peter Crouch highlighted the broader landscape.

“What Man City have got is the know-how and the recent history behind them. That can lead to nervous tensions around the stadium, certainly around the back end of the season.”

Yet he also stressed the scale of the opportunity.

“You would much rather be in Arsenal’s position.”

Crouch went further, suggesting the current campaign represents a rare opening.

“Man City are not the Man City of old, Liverpool aren’t, Manchester United aren’t what they have been, Chelsea the same. There is a lack of quality in the top areas. The bar has been set high in the past years. Now is a real opportunity for Arsenal. If they don’t get over the line, there needs to be more questions answered.”

It is both encouragement and warning.

Arsenal’s title challenge now enters its most revealing chapter. The margin for error is slim, but not nonexistent. Four points remain a meaningful buffer. The squad has shown resilience before. The defensive record is elite. The belief inside the camp appears intact.

The task is clear. Match Manchester City’s consistency. Avoid the late-season dip that has haunted previous campaigns. Convert promising positions into decisive statements.

The Brentford draw does not define the race. It does, however, amplify its intensity.

For Mikel Arteta, this is the moment to prove growth. For his players, it is a chance to transform near-misses into triumph. For supporters, it is a test of nerve.

Twelve matches stand between Arsenal and a potential Premier League crown. History may not favour them. Form suggests they are capable. The pressure is rising.

The response will determine everything.