Monday 19 December 2016 12:05, UK
Former Arsenal defender Nigel Winterburn believes the club’s response to back-to-back Premier League defeats will determine whether they can get back into the title race.
Until they were beaten 2-1 at Everton on December 13, Arsene Wenger's side had not lost in the top-flight since they lost 4-3 at home to Liverpool on the opening day of the season.
The defeat at Goodison Park was compounded by defeat by the same scoreline away to Manchester City on Sunday, with the Gunners having taken the lead in both matches.
Those capitulations are at odds with how Arsenal have performed in the majority of games this season, according to Winterburn, who told Premier League Daily on Sky Sports News HQ they must now regain their battling spirit in order to get their title bid back on track.
"Up until the last two games, I thought there was a difference in Arsenal this season," he said.
"They have played very well for large parts of this season and when they weren't playing quite so well, they were digging out results.
"The difficulty is, as soon as Arsenal lose a game, they say it's because of the physicality of the game or the opponent against them.
"In these two games [Everton and Manchester City] I don't believe that was true.
"They were cruising in both games and it will be for Arsene Wenger to work out…why they haven't kept a clean sheet for such a long period of time.
"What he has to put into his team's mind when they are in good positions is they have to go in for the kill.
"There is a worrying trait that, having led, they have lost both games, and he will be bitterly disappointed about that. They have got to find that solution."
Winterburn feels Arsenal should pick up plenty of points in their next five Premier League matches - home games against West Brom, Crystal Palace and Burnley interspersed with trips to Bournemouth and Swansea - and will need to do so to try and close the gap on leaders Chelsea which currently stands at nine points.
"I suggest we will find out a lot about Arsenal over the next five games and see where they are in the league," he added.
"They have got games coming up where they could easily pick up maximum points. They need to only drop two points from the five games, to make sure they stay in the title race.
"It's a big test coming up and one I am looking forward to seeing whether people will be right in saying it's the same old Arsenal or will [the team] respond and push themselves back into the title race straight after Christmas.
"Chelsea are running away with it because of their splendid form and Arsenal need to stay in touch because they cannot afford to be any more points behind.
"The gap has got to close after the next five games."
See how Arsenal get on when they face London rivals Crystal Palace on New Year's Day from 3:30pm on Sky Sports 1 HD.
Before that we have Mersey Monday as Everton take on Liverpool, live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 7pm.
