Have Arsenal "bottled" the Premier League once again?: The title race appears to have shifted in favour of Pep Guardiola's Manchester City now
- Anweshan Ghosh
- 5 hours ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 1 hour ago
Manchester City have beaten Arsenal 2-1 at the Etihad and have potentially won the title-deciding clash this season. Erling Haaland’s strike in the second half sealed all three points for Pep Guardiola's side, and it was a well-deserved victory for them as they had dominated the game right from the beginning.
Mikel Arteta's side was playing for a point, and it was evident from their pragmatic approach to this fixture. Rayan Cherki’s sensational goal put City in front early in the first half, but Donnarumma’s error in possession gifted Kai Havertz and Arsenal an equaliser.
Haaland scored his first Premier League goal in two months, and what a time to end the goal drought as well. Following this win, if Man City win all their remaining fixtures alongside Arsenal, they'll both be on the same points, and goal difference will separate them. Currently City are second on the table with 67 points, 3 points behind the Gunners with a game in hand and are only one behind in GD.
Arsenal are clearly struggling since that Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City, and it has psychologically damaged their belief this season. It derailed their momentum, following which they were also knocked out from the FA Cup fourth round by Championship side Southampton.
Last week's defeat at Bournemouth put even more pressure on this game, and it led them to crumble under pressure today. Mikel Arteta's defensive approach to this game right from the start made it clear that the Gunners came to Manchester to salvage a point from it and claim an advantage in the title race, but it backfired.
Manchester City dominated with the ball and had the better chances, but Arsenal could've scored a few more goals if they had had a bit of luck tonight. Both the teams hit the woodwork twice, and the visitors saw plenty of chances saved by the City keeper. Guardiola's side registered an xG of 1.36, while Arteta's side had an xG of 1.62, but they failed to convert most of their chances. Their only goal came from a costly error from Man City.
Manchester City can leapfrog Arsenal in the table if they win their game in hand against Burnley this Wednesday. Pep Guardiola's side has the title in their own hands right now, and they are the experienced side when it comes to these situations. They have been here before, and no one would know this better than the Arsenal and Liverpool fans themselves.
Man City haven't been at their best this season, while Arsenal have had one of their best seasons this time, but this is the most crucial period of the title race, and that's where Arsenal have to make it count. As per Opta, the supercomputer now increased Manchester City’s chances of lifting the Premier League to 27% following this massive win, although Arsenal are still the predicted favourites this year.
Erling Haaland once again proved himself as a big-game player for Manchester City on the night as he became only the second player to score in four consecutive games against Mikel Arteta's Arsenal after Liverpool's late forward Diogo Jota. It's still not over for Mikel Arteta's side yet, but another slip-up could very well seal their fate in the league. Similarly, Guardiola's side also cannot afford any slip-up, as it would gift all the momentum they've gained after this win to Arsenal.
Mikel Arteta's Arsenal “more convinced” to win the title after disastrous loss to Manchester City
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has admitted that his side is more determined to win the league following the disastrous loss to Manchester City at the Etihad. The Gunners saw their nine-point lead shrink to a mere three-point lead while City has a game in hand after the defeat. If Pep Guardiola's side beats Burnley next week, they will leapfrog the Gunners in the table.
"I believed today; I believed on Wednesday, a week ago, because I see them every day and I know the level that we have," the Arsenal boss said after the defeat. (sic)
He added, “But today if [the players] need to be more convinced, I think they are now more convinced. They were talking about it in the dressing room. It's a new league now. They have a game in hand. We have three points of advantage and five games to play. So everything is still to play for. We're not going to stop and we're going to go again, that's for sure.” (sic)
Plenty of pundits pointed out Mikel Arteta's tactical system heading into this clash, and it was evidently quite pragmatic, unlike their previous Premier League clash against Pep Guardiola's side when they drew the game but deserved to win the game. Arteta defended his game plan and added that his side came to Manchester to win the game.
“We came here to win the game; I think the message was clear from three days before. We prepared to do that, to take the game to the areas that we believe we could win it in," said Arteta. (sic)
He added, “We certainly did that, even though we started the game with a goal down, and psychologically we had to play with that. We've done it. So we proved that we are there. But the reality is in the two boxes today there was a difference, and that's what decided the game.” (sic)
Arsenal's squad are under huge pressure to deliver even more, especially because they could finish the season trophyless again if they fail to deliver in the Premier League and the Champions League. The fans have waited too long and have been quite patient with the sporting project, but even after spending so much on transfers and having the upper hand in the title race for most parts of the season, they fail to win it; it's yet another failure for Mikel Arteta's side.
The Spaniard dismissed any sort of demotivation within the squad and added that they do not need any miracle to win these two competitions.
Arteta says, “I mean, if I have to pick the players to win the Premier League with five games to go in our hands and be in the final of the Champions League, I think I should be at home.” (sic)
"So it's not the case. It's not needed. It's never been needed, even in difficult moments.” (sic)
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