Like a phoenix from the ashes, Manchester City will rise again. This is exactly the tete-a-tete Mikel Arteta and Arsenal wanted to avoid. We have been here twice now and Arteta has been disrespected twice.
Man City’s consecutive wins have completely changed the atmosphere and momentum of the Premier League title race. As of Saturday evening, they had a provisional nine-point lead over Arsenal, but the gap suddenly narrowed to four. This week’s results feel like a turning point. The city is approaching.
But beyond the obvious value of the winning streak, it was how those wins were earned. City, who, as Josep Guardiola said, invested “hugely mentally and physically” in Sunday’s come-from-behind win at Anfield, made victory against Fulham look like a walk in the park.
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Watch for free: Highlights of the Premier League match between Manchester City and Fulham.
The thrill of scoring three goals in 15 minutes like in the first half shows the confidence of a team that believes they are nearing the top. “I said, ‘Guys, we have to try again,’ and they did it,” Guardiola summed up as if there was no real danger at all. There is no doubt that the rhythm of this Manchester City machine is now Arsenal’s biggest enemy.
Guardiola is daring to face the best team in the Premier League, which of course is also his own team. However, the Gunners are currently thought to have the most complete squad with the attributes to rival the champions. Shouldn’t the best team in a division win the title?
Of course, this is not a necessary game. Arsenal were supposed to win the title in the 2023/24 season, but they failed to do so. They were also at the front for much of the 2022/23 season. And here we are again, bound for another fascinating installment of the repeating story: “Can Arsenal actually get over the line this time?”
Arsenal drew 1-1 against Brentford on Thursday after taking the lead.
Guardiola, on the other hand, is poised to take advantage of that. He’s not without his own problems, and that’s important. Erling Haaland has only scored one goal in eight competitive games and was clearly suffering from fatigue, withdrawing at half-time against Fulham despite having already won the game.
Due to the over-reliance on Haaland, he receives more playing time than any of his teammates (2,148 minutes in league games) and this is responsible for his reduced effectiveness. Still, he scored the winning goal from a penalty against Liverpool, and three days later scored a sharp third goal against Fulham. Perhaps he will be given a rest next FA Cup weekend.
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Erling Haaland’s stoppage-time penalty sealed Liverpool’s victory.
Bernardo Silva and Nico O’Reilly are two others who will benefit from time off. Both play an important role in City’s structure, with Rodri no longer playing a solo role from deep, but relying on the industry of Silva and O’Reilly to balance in and out of possession demands. This is a pragmatic move on Pep’s part, one that accepts one of the major flaws of last season, which was that City didn’t play too easily. This is especially true during periods of transition.
The maturity of O’Reilly in particular has been key to the success of this new regime, but City still have problems maintaining control in the second half of games. Drifting is intense. City have lost nine games in the second half of the league, just one less than Burnley. If this table were measured in 45-second increments, only Arsenal would still come out on top, with City in 6th place.
Young Nico O’Reilly has been a central figure in Manchester City’s recent success
City had a strong start to the match, but it doesn’t really matter yet. They have scored 30 goals in the first half in the league, at least nine more than any other team, and have shown an equally impressive strength from open play even when Haaland is not contributing. City have scored 42 times, the most in the league during his playing days, compared to Arsenal’s 27.
In a season of subjectivity like this, that fact feels important. The versatility of the goal threat is one of City’s best weapons, as long as it is reliable and not solely due to Haaland. The arrival of Antoine Semenyo, who has already scored five goals, has and will continue to ease the burden on the Norwegian.
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Marc Guech and Antoine Semenho discuss their January move to Manchester City ahead of the ‘season-defining’ match against Liverpool at Anfield.
The attractive arrivals of Semenyo and Marc Gehi in January have already had a stabilizing effect. This will help you make the changes you need to welcome the season properly. Show intention and ambition. They are strong players and have the potential to match the depth that Arsenal have admired in the league since the summer and give City a boost.
Between now and the end of May, the need for perfection will be high. Anxiety over how to achieve that has cost Arsenal in games where City have taken the lead and piled up points, as was the case this week. The Gunners have often succumbed to scoreboard pressure since the start of the year, dropping points in four of their seven games. A total of 9 points have now been spent.
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Watch for free: Highlights of the Premier League match between Brentford and Arsenal.
What they lack is not bottles or nerves, what matters is efficiency. Gabriel Martinelli’s mistake in stoppage time at Brentford was exactly the kind of chance a Championship winner would have scored. That moment is what ultimately makes the difference.
Guardiola’s side only face one top-half team (Newcastle) in their next five league games, but Arsenal must negotiate a North London derby and a meeting with Chelsea in between trips to Wolves and Brighton before the top two sides clash at the Etihad in April. This is where momentum takes on a whole new meaning.
And for the first time this season, City’s pull seems to be even greater.
