Sky Sports’ Paul Merson says in his latest column that the Premier League title race could be decided on goal difference, especially after Manchester City only beat Burnley 1-0.
Pep Guardiola’s side currently sit top of the Premier League but are level with Arsenal on points and goal difference after missing a number of chances against Turf Moor on Wednesday. City have scored 66 goals this season, three more than Arsenal, and are top of the table in terms of goals scored.
Merson believes City needed a strong performance at Burnley to take the lead in the title race.
Read below for Magic Man’s thoughts on the table…
“City won’t score much beyond Everton.”
Arsenal performed well against the Etihad, but lost in a game they couldn’t afford to lose. You don’t have to lose a soccer game to play well. Manchester City are at the top of the league out of nowhere. It’s scary.
However, Arsenal have played twice ahead of City and could be six points clear again, which they must achieve. To put pressure on City again, they need to win two games against Newcastle and Fulham. It’s mandatory.
What about City’s last five games? It’s not that difficult for them. They have Everton and Brentford, the two teams that represent Europe, but the other two games are a complete challenge. At home there are Crystal Palace and Bournemouth who could be aiming for the Conference League final.
And on the final day against Aston Villa, they have already qualified for the Champions League and I’m sure the priority for the week will be the Europa League final (which will be played four days before the final day of the Premier League season). So it’s a nothing game.
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Arsenal are back in the title race. City didn’t lead Burnley by four or five points and won’t do that again in the next game against Everton.
Everton have a very good defense and so do Brentford. Bournemouth are also very good at the back.
The race for the Premier League title could be fought on goal difference.
“Martinelli needs to turn on if we want to win Man City”
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Watch for free: Premier League highlights between Manchester City and Arsenal
Arsenal were unlucky against the Etihad. Kai Havertz slipped when he should have scored in the second half. Eberechi Eze’s shot hit the post and rolled over the line, but on another day, earlier in the season when he was a little more free, it went in.
And how unlucky Arsenal were with Gabriel’s header. It could easily have hit Nico O’Reilly in the arm, and if it did it would be a penalty. But incredibly, the ball hit his side and bounced off the post.
But I don’t like it when people don’t pick up on people. And Gabriel Martinelli didn’t when he failed to track Nico O’Reilly’s run to Manchester City’s winner.
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Micah Richards analyzes Manchester City’s decisive winner against the Etihad and points out where Arsenal went wrong
You don’t have to worry about pushing Marc Gehi. Guehi is not the problem. He’s standing on the edge of his box, so let him have it there! He switched off, and when you switch off, that’s what happens.
When you’re at a club like Arsenal, you’re asked to do things like this at least once. one time. I can’t keep being told that.
Yes, O’Reilly still has time to run the entire field. But Martinelli has to nip that in the bud. You have to know that it’s dangerous.
