Hoddle warns Arsenal: North London Derby is now a must-win after Wolves collapse

Arsenal's title credentials took another dent on Wednesday evening when they squandered a commanding position to draw 2-2 with Wolves, prompting former England manager Glenn Hoddle to sound the alarm bells ahead of Sunday's clash with Spurs.

The Gunners appeared to be steering toward a comfortable victory when Piero Hincapie's 56th-minute strike pushed them two goals clear. Within five minutes, however, everything unravelled spectacularly. A breakdown in communication between goalkeeper David Raya and Gabriel presented Tom Edozie with an opportunity, his effort deflecting off substitute Ricardo Caligiuri and into the net to spark the collapse.

The dropped points leave Arsenal's title hopes hanging by a thread. They now sit just four points clear of Manchester City, though they've played an extra game—and with a trip to the Etihad still to come, the initiative has shifted dramatically toward Pep Guardiola's side. For a squad with a troubling history of capitulation, this latest stumble will have alarm bells ringing. Arsenal have managed just three wins from eight Premier League outings so far in 2026.

Hoddle's concerns extended beyond the tactical failings, focusing instead on the mental state of the squad. Captain Bukayo Saka faced the media after the match, but the pundit felt something was amiss with the winger's demeanour.

"That's interesting, because he was the skipper tonight," Hoddle said on Premier League Productions. "He was very honest there saying they need to do better. But his demeanour for me wasn't right. Your demeanour needs to be a little bit more up—he was very flat, very flat."

Rather than dismissing it as an isolated incident, Hoddle believes Saka's subdued presentation reflected a deeper malaise running through the entire team. The psychological shift is stark: months earlier, Arsenal carried themselves with the swagger of champions-in-waiting. Now, uncertainty has crept in.

"A few months ago they weren't doing that, they were authoritative and were saying, 'we're Arsenal and we're going to win the title'," Hoddle explained. "But they're doubting themselves and now they're under pressure and it's all about the mentality, they need to be strong and together to come again."

The message from Hoddle is unambiguous: Sunday's visit to Tottenham is no longer just another fixture. "It's not a crossroads for Arsenal but they need to start again, go again," he said. "They've got to go again but there's a doubt in their minds now, there's definitely a doubt and they've got a huge couple of games ahead for them. Unless they get a result at the weekend they will be in trouble."

For Mikel Arteta's side, the mathematics are brutal. Anything less than three points against their fiercest rivals risks allowing City to seize control of their own destiny.