Manchester City and Arsenal are involved in a very competitive title race and whoever is the first at the end of the season, will have all the merits and credits for performing exceptionally and at a high level.
The Gunners Situation
Arsenal is the first team and to be precise has been the team that has lost more in the last five games than in other games combined. Arsenal have been the better team in the Premier League this season, not only because they win, but also because they build a playing system that defines the outcome of the game.
Arsenal’s midfield Xhaka and Odegaard are the key players that bring the intensity of the passes and the possession in the game. Also, the positioning of the players makes it possible for the mechanisms of the squad to work and bring results.
Thomas Partey is the man that connects the midfield with the defense. He does the transitions and has a powerful shot. If Partey could have been more effective maybe Arsenal could have a bigger gap with City.
Form
Arsenal has won 18, drawn 3, and lost 3, with the recent two losses against Everton and City made the Gunners see it differently in the title race. They also collected a draw at home with Brentford, and the coach Mikel Arteta has something to work on. He said after the game with Leicester that the team deserved to win and he would fight for the title until the last game.
“I think performances. I think to do what to do what the team has done here today is very, very difficult. I think we dominated the game from start to finish. We had a difficult 10 or so minutes where we gave so many balls away that we lost a little bit of control, but in general, I think our play and understanding of the space, how they were pressing, and how we got into the final third positions was excellent.
“We lacked a little bit of that final pass to score more or create bigger chances, I think we weren’t over the decision with the disallowed goal, which was difficult to take, but to stay really focused and determined to do that, I think defensively we were incredible because we restrict Leicester to one shot on target in the whole game at home is a difficult thing to do. The players did really well.”
The Squad’s New Signings
Mikel Arteta has spoken after the game about the impact that Trossard and Jorginho have at Arsenal.
“He (Trossard) did really well. I think he was really good, I think he got involved in many situations that could have ended up in many more big chances, he was involved in the incredible goal that he scored that was disallowed, involved in the goal of Gabi, the pass that he played to him, he’s so good in small spaces, tight spaces, with his creativity to open people up and I’m really happy with him.”
“Two players already that have experience in the league, that really fitted our way of playing, really intelligent both of them to understand what is required in many situations that we demand them to execute certain things and they have the personality to come here and play the way they played is what is required at this level”
Concentration Levels
Arsenal have to consider this as a concentration game and should keep in mind that in spite of points advantage in the title race, they are the underdogs in this battle with City.
Arteta has to do more to make it possible for the new signings to perform equally to the experienced players in the squad. Plus it is Martinelli and Saka, two wingers that are integrated and maybe will have to be adapted to managers’ decisions to not play all the matches.
They must be extra careful and dedicated to performing at high levels when the team needs their services.
For Arsenal, it would be such a regret if they are not champions in May. They have made things right and all the systems they have built would have been not as successful if it is not finished with the title. For Arsenal, the top four is not enough anymore and all the members of the club know that/
Citizens and their chances to win the Premier League
On the City’s side, there are some problems. Erling Halaand is not scoring enough and the managerial staff of Man City said that it is their fault that the Norwegian star has not the average of goals that all the fans expect from him.
Halaand is a super striker who finds the goal and knows how to move into the zone like no one else. One big disadvantage is that City is performing at the right intensity in the third part of the pitch to give Halaand the freedom and the desired intensity to find spaces.
The best way to fix this is to find the best partner for Halaand to shine. Julian Alvarez is a good option and the form he had in the World Cup makes City’s managerial staff doubtful who is the best alternative for the attack.
His partnership with Halaand worked perfectly in the Bournemouth game. They both scored and opened spaces for other players as well.
The title race in Guardiola’s Optic
City’s manager Pep Guardiola expressed his view on the title race bringing memory the Champions League final Liverpool vs Milan, saying that Milan had an experienced team and were 3-0 at the end they lost the final.
“So, football is, when you think, from my little experience, when you think I have things under control, I know what is going to happen, take a punch in your face and put it again in your reality. This is the truth. So, when I’m a little bit satisfied no for today Nottingham as well. I was sad because of how good we played there. The performance was amazing and unfortunately, football was a draw.”
“When I see, what I’ve seen lately in the games how we felt and how we tried to play made me feel ok if we fight till the end. After I know how good is Arsenal so far. How good this United is back. So Newcastle is still there. So we need to be calm”
City has won 17 matches, drawn 4, and lost four, with the two points dropped in Nottingham that is a regret for Man City’s head coach Guardiola. They also registered a loss with Tottenham in the last games which affects the team’s morale in this race.
As for the pundits’ opinions, City is obligated to win the title. In England, they feel that. Plus is the investigation pressure that is beyond playing football. The title means more money and a guarantee that the financial allegations are not true.
Champions League road for City
If City advances in the Champions League, it will be easier for Arsenal that play in the Europa League. This race can be a three-team race with United that has tremendous form and can be a real danger for Manchester City and Arsenal.
The European price justifies a probable second place in Premier and in Etihad this scenario is more than acceptable.
The real question is will they be able to fight for both titles?
And the real bet is which opponent they will face. After all, playing in the best leagues in the world means that you need to deliver more, spend more energy and money, and hope that your opponent makes mistakes. Details will decide this title race as Manchester City and Arsenal already are giving us quite a show to watch.