Brilliant to bonkers: Arsenal as likely to throw title away as they are to win it

The Gunners twice came from behind but drew 3-3 with Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday night after Joe Allen scored a late equaliser for the hosts.This was Arsenal in a nutshell. Breathtaking attack matched by brainless defending, a draw that will feel like defeat and poses the question - will they once again end the season as nearly men?For much of the second-half, Arsenal's pulsating clash against Liverpool on Wednesday night looked like it might prove a defining evening in this season’s Premier League title race.Having twice fallen behind, Arsenal showed the mental character of champions to fight their way back into the game and take the lead. As the clocked ticked towards 90 minutes, the Gunners looked set for a victory that, with Manchester City only managing a draw against Everton, would have made Arsene Wenger’s side heavy favourites to win the title.Instead, they leave Anfield only with a sense of deep disappointment that they could not hold on for all three points after Joe Allen ensured that a gripping game ended in fitting drama with a last-minute equaliser.

Arsenal remain top of the table, ahead of second-placed Leicester on goal difference and three points above City, who they still consider their biggest title rivals.Never will they get a better chance of winning their first title since the Invincibles in 2004, but too many times they have shown signs of the potential implosion that all Arsenal supporters fear.While the defence has improved in the last 12 months, the traditional vulnerabilities remain, not least against sides that play direct football, as Liverpool did with the high ball to Christian Benteke from which Allen scored the hosts’ late third.Arsenal’s league defeats this season have come against West Ham, West Brom, Southampton and a Chelsea side in crisis. It creates a sense that this team cannot be relied upon, that they will make sure the title race drags on to the final minutes or seconds of the campaign.
Back-to-back FA Cup wins have improved the winning mentality of the squad, as has the arrival of players that have won several major trophies in Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez and Petr Cech.But this is still Arsenal. You can trust them to play brilliant football, but not to win trophies. The north Londoners have the best attack in the country. Even without the likes of Alexis, Santi Cazorla and Jack Wilshere, they counter-attacked with pace and purpose, opening the holes in an already porous Liverpool defence.Mesut Ozil had an off-night but the Gunners still attacked with guile and gusto as Aaron Ramsey made his customary bursts from deep, Joel Campbell showed moments of star quality and Olivier Giroud scored twice to take his tally for the season to 12 goals in 21 Premier League matches.Giroud’s second goal was brilliant, a wonderful turn and shot inside the penalty area as he led the line with incredible workrate, strength and quality.
The Frenchman is an elite striker when at his best, capable of bursts of 10 matches or so in which he scores at a rate of a goal a game. On the other hand, at any time he is liable to produce a shocking performance or embark on a rotten run of form.It is a pattern so often reflected in his team - which is why it is so hard to say with confidence that Arsenal will see out the job and win the Premier League this season.