The two sides are now virtually evenly matched. And what a finale this Premier League title race awaits us.
Arsenal and Manchester City have five weeks left to prove why they should be Premier League champions after a scintillating top-flight clash in Sunday’s most epic clash left the stakes level.
City can now overtake Arsenal on goal difference if they win against Burnley on Wednesday, which will be broadcast on Sky Sports. With so much at stake, what are the factors that determine a run-in?
The approaching T word
Forget about being favorites to win the Premier League, Manchester City are aiming for the domestic treble. Its significance seems hard to fathom after an inconsistent campaign that was meandering toward nothing just a month ago. How lucky is this?
Well, Man City are the perfect opportunists. Since January, things have been well under control for Pep Guardiola. It started with the low-cost, high-impact signings of Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi, and it snowballed from there. Beating Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final last month gave them momentum at the perfect time and lifted their first trophy.
Now, the city approaches. They are masters of the home stretch. April was Man City’s best month under Guardiola in terms of points per game and winning percentage. Nothing holds back from here, just freestyle football. Not to mention the friendliest of FA Cup pairings as they face Championship side Southampton in this weekend’s semi-final.
luck? destiny? Something completely different? Whatever the logic or rationale, another historic high score is shockingly close.
The Gunners have an advantage in the game, but is there an influence from Europe?
Remaining PL matches between Arsenal and Man City – April 19th
As these two giants go head-to-head towards the finish line, who has the better game?
Arsenal are in a better position as they play all of their remaining games against lower-ranked teams. City have some tricky away games ahead of them, with games against Everton and Bournemouth seen as opportunities to capitalize on points dropped by Arsenal.
But Arsenal’s Champions League campaign could have a huge impact. Mikel Arteta’s side are without a win in seven of their last 10 games in Europe. The two semi-finals against Atlético Madrid will be followed by a London derby against bogey-bound Fulham and an away trip to relegation-threatened West Ham.
A cool head makes better decisions
As already hinted, the opportunity to make a running jump with this title fell rather to City. Guardiola might argue that they were playing the long game. Analysts may believe that Arsenal will always stumble, as they have always proven. Had the Gunners beaten Bournemouth last Saturday, they would have temporarily gone 12 points clear. The race is over.
And it has always felt like Arsenal because of that gap, the 207 days spent at the top, the depth of the squad and the manager’s desire to come so close. Until it doesn’t. Arsenal fans have spent all season excited about the possibility of winning their first title in 22 years, but City’s expectations have been tempered appropriately.
Even Guardiola didn’t believe it was possible until now. City therefore had the good fortune to go into this latest clash without taking any risks. Never underestimate the power of a clear and calm head when the pressure is on.
Arteta needs to choose the right striker
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Kai Havertz missed a great chance to equalize for Arsenal in stoppage time against Manchester City.
Arsenal will need more firepower if close goal difference is a feature.
It was clear in Sunday’s defeat that Arsenal have two very different profiles in Kai Havertz and Viktor Gokeres. The Gunners look better as a whole with Havertz in their No. 9 position, and the German’s ability to occupy defenders and create space for other players was very evident at the Etihad.
The only problem is that Havertz is not a ruthless goalscorer, as evidenced by his missed three big chances in Manchester.
Gökeres, on the other hand, is a natural goalscorer, as evidenced by his 18 goals in all competitions in what has so far been an unimpressive season. However, the Swedish forward lacks the hold-up and build-up aspects that Havertz excels at.
What Arteta chooses from his No. 9 options will be crucial to Arsenal’s chances of winning trophies from now on.
Cherki factor
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Rayan Cherki gives Man City the lead against Arsenal in the Premier League.
Talk about the importance of City’s main flashpoints. Obviously Semenyo and Guehi are changing seasons. However, in this category, Rayan Cherki’s mastery should be given equal weight.
A title-winning team needs a Cherki-like character. The last time Man City won the league was Phil Foden. It wasn’t just the goals he scored, but the charisma he carried in big games and influential moments. Cherki must now take on that responsibility.
The Frenchman started 16 games in the Premier League and was directly involved in 12 goals, none more important than his gorgeous opener in the win over Arsenal. He is also the first Premier League player to have scored at least 10 goals and provided at least 10 assists in all competitions this season. A true creative genius.
Odegaard shows value with much-needed return
Martin Odegaard’s stats against Man City
Arsenal had struggled for form and fluency heading into the game against Man City, but they actually showed promise despite the result. One of the reasons for the change? Martin Odegaard.
The Arsenal captain was a strong presence with and without the ball, leading the off-the-ball press and causing City’s problems while orchestrating Arsenal’s creative play.
Odegaard unfortunately missed out on his third start in the last three months. This was his fourth starting appearance this season, alongside Eberechi Eze. In the remaining three games, one of them was sent off before the start of the second half.
Cherki proved that the unpredictability of a talented fighter is crucial in the title race. If Odegaard and Eze can start regularly, Arsenal’s attacking power will increase significantly.
Do Arsenal’s hopes rest on Saka?
That being said, Arsenal can score all the goals they can get. And Bukayo Saka’s return date could be a pivotal part of the Gunners’ remaining season.
Noni Madueke’s lack of form and fitness shows the class gap between him and Arsenal’s No.7. Maduke has scored just two goals in 22 appearances in the Premier League.
And if Odegaard and Havertz form key parts of Arsenal’s attack, Saka could provide a further boost towards the title. All three last started for Arsenal on December 21, 2024, in Arsenal’s 5-1 win away to Crystal Palace.
A convincing result like this is what Arsenal need from here.
What happens if Rodri misses City?
To temper City’s optimism with a bit of reality, Rodri limped off in the 88th minute of Sunday’s game. Guardiola revealed in a press conference that the Spanish midfielder has a groin problem.
Any damage to Rodri would hurt City’s title hopes.
He is a player who makes his surroundings work at full speed. Without him, City lack consistency, both with and without the ball. No one trying to convince City will need to be reminded of the disaster that occurred during last season’s injury spell. Even if he is deemed fit, he is unlikely to be at risk against Burnley on Wednesday.
Lucky Gabriel becomes a soldier
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Dermot Gallagher and Jay Bothroyd debate whether Gabriel should have been sent off in Arsenal’s match against Manchester City.
Arsenal will be disappointed after Sunday’s defeat but will consider themselves lucky that things haven’t gotten worse. Had Gabriel received a red card for headbutting Erling Haaland and subsequently received a three-match ban, an isolated incident would have turned into a full-blown crisis.
With Julian Timber and Riccardo Calafioli also out injured, Arsenal’s defense was tight, with Piero Hincapie having to fill in alongside William Saliba and Miles Lewis-Skelly at left-back.
Instead, Gabriel will be available to feature against Newcastle, Fulham and West Ham. Did Haaland’s honest lack of ‘Houseley’ actually boost Arsenal’s title chances?
What does that mean for Pep?
The final factor is that Pep’s future is undecided. Will he stay here or go? Perhaps that will only be answered by the culmination of this season.
If his heart is not yet set in either direction, it is certainly his goal to succumb to the highest heights.
His legacy won’t be determined by what happens in the coming weeks, but it can be strengthened. Many believe this is his last. If he did, he wouldn’t just walk away quietly. The final match against his old friend Arteta could seal the deal.
