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This was supposed to be the game where we restore our lead at the top of the Premier League back to six points, before extending it to nine points against Wolverhampton Wanderers on February 18. Instead, we were extremely lucky to come away with a point.

Our trip away to Brentford had added importance after the results from the previous gameweek. I had said that the results of matchweek 25 would decide who will end up winning the title this season. My argument was that Liverpool, despite having a poor season by their standards, were generally strong at home. A win or draw for them against Man City would have meant Arsenal pulling away from the rest of the pack in the title race.

However, City came away with a win and then thumped Fulham 3-0 yesterday, which meant we had to go to the Gtech stadium today and beat Brentford. Instead what we witnessed was a team that was listless, bereft of ideas and lacking the usual composure they play with. It seemed the pressure of a chasing City got to the players.

The statistics told the story of our struggles. We managed just one shot on target in the entire first half and looked utterly devoid of creativity in the final third. Noni Madueke's 62nd-minute header from Piero Hincapie's cross should have been the platform to see out a crucial away win, but instead, it merely exposed our fragility. Minutes after scoring our first goal, Declan Rice had the opportunity to extend our lead. But instead of shooting from inside the box, he chose to pass the ball to Viktor Gyokeres and the chance was gone.

Keane Lewis-Potter's equaliser from a long throw-in just two minutes later was a hammer blow. The ease with which Brentford carved through our defence was alarming, especially from a team that prides itself on defensive solidity under Mikel Arteta.

The manner of the equaliser was particularly galling. Long throws have been a weakness we've struggled with all season, and Brentford exploited it ruthlessly. Lewis-Potter's run went completely unmarked, and his header left David Raya with no chance. What followed was a frantic finale where both sides had chances to snatch all three points.

Gabriel Martinelli, introduced as a substitute, came agonizingly close to restoring our lead, only to be denied by Caoimhín Kelleher's excellent save. At the other end, Igor Thiago wasted a golden opportunity in stoppage time that could have seen us leave West London empty-handed.

While Eberechi Eze announced himself with that sensational hat-trick against Tottenham back in November – becoming the first player to score a Premier League treble in the North London derby – his overall contribution this season has been disappointing. That performance at the Emirates, where he showed the swagger and confidence that convinced Arsenal to beat Spurs to his signature, now feels like a distant memory.

Since that magical afternoon, Eze has struggled to recapture that form. His performance at Brentford epitomised his season: flashes of brilliance interspersed with frustrating periods of invisibility. For a player who cost a substantial fee and was heralded as the missing piece in our title puzzle, he needs to step up significantly. The pressure is mounting. Eze must prove he can be the difference-maker in these tight matches, the kind of player who can unlock stubborn defences week in, week out. Otherwise, there's a real danger he'll be labeled an expensive mistake – another talented player who couldn't handle the pressure of playing for a club with genuine title aspirations.

Instead of sitting comfortably six points clear with a game in hand against struggling Wolves, we now cling to a precarious four-point advantage. City's relentless 3-0 dismantling of Fulham on Wednesday has brought Pep Guardiola's side breathing down our necks. They have found their rhythm at precisely the wrong time for us. More worryingly, this draw feels like the beginning of the narrative we've fought so hard to avoid. The media vultures are already circling, ready to trot out the tired "Arsenal bottling it" storylines. Opposition fans will gleefully seize upon this slip-up as evidence that we lack the mental fortitude to go the distance.

But here's the truth: this is still firmly in our hands. We remain top of the league with the destiny of the title still within our control. We're still four points clear, and if we beat Wolves on Tuesday, that gap extends to seven points – a significant cushion with just 13 games remaining. However, none of that matters if we don't take care of business against Wolves. They are struggling at the bottom of the table, and this is exactly the type of fixture champions-elect must win. No excuses, no hesitation. We must crush them and send a message that one bad performance doesn't define our season.

Above all, we must strengthen our minds. The psychological battle is just beginning. Every dropped point will be magnified, every stumble analyzed to death. We need to show the resilience and character that has been lacking in our title challenges of recent years. The squad must treat the Wolves game as a cup final. Three points are non-negotiable. Any further slip-ups and we hand the initiative to City, who know exactly how to apply pressure and capitalize on their rivals' mistakes.

This is our time. But time without action is meaningless. The Wolves match is our immediate test of character. Win it, and we're seven points clear. Stumble, and the doubts creep in.

We march on.