Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has a golden opportunity to step out of the shadow of his mentor Josep Guardiola – and everything points to the Gunners finishing the season top of the table.
Arsenal are firmly in the race for the Premier League title (Image: Arsenal FC, Getty Images)
The title race has all the makings of a classic. And what has become clear is that Manchester City are ready to fight Arsenal every step of the way.
If proof was needed, it was the way City hit back against Liverpool – and the way they celebrated afterwards showed just how much it meant. Manager Josep Guardiola has restored the gap with leaders Arsenal to six points, but with 13 games remaining, there are sure to be some ups and downs along the way.
Nine points would have felt like a very scary difference, but City will now have genuine hope that they can bounce back from Arsenal in the coming weeks. Arsenal have to play Brentford on Thursday night, which will be extremely difficult, but the gap could be reduced to just three points when City play Fulham on Wednesday night.
City then have to face Newcastle at home (just three days after Eddie Howe’s side traveled to Qarabag in the Champions League), followed by Leeds (away), Nottingham Forest (home) and West Ham (away).
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City will then face Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley on March 22nd, and the winners will take great confidence and courage from that match.
Meanwhile, after their trip to Brentford, Arsenal will face Wolves (away), Tottenham (away), Chelsea (home), Brighton (away) and Everton (home) before that day at Wembley.
It seems as if City’s next few games will give them an edge and a chance to close the gap, but there is no doubt there will be more twists and turns in this title race.
That’s why you can feel the thrill and tension. City celebrated enthusiastically at Anfield because it firmly entrenches them in the team.
City have to be the most un-Guardiola team since he took over. Gianluigi Donnarumma is a great keeper, but he cannot play with his feet. They made big money by signing Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi.
Manchester City enthusiastically celebrated come-from-behind victory at Anfield (Image: AFP or licensor)
They are all in the hunt for glory and perhaps that is a sign that Guardiola is planning for his final season and wants to end his reign in style. Or maybe I’m just thinking too much.
And what makes this interesting is that Mikel Arteta is a wizard’s apprentice, working under Guardiola, learning from the best, and coming close to Guardiola in two of the last three seasons.
But now Arteta looks ready to step up and aim for his first title, and one could argue that all Arsenal actually need is eight wins from their last 13 games. If we calculate that the number of points to win is 80, even if we draw 4 games, we will lose one more game and we will have 84 points.
This is the lowest number since Manchester United won the title in 1997 with 75 points. But remember, Liverpool won last season with 84 points, 10 points behind second-placed Arsenal.
City, who have won two of their last seven games, need to win 11 of their last 13 games, draw one and lose one to reach 84th place. That’s a challenge to some extent. Additionally, six of City’s top 10 teams play away, compared to Arsenal’s only two (Brentford and City).
Mikel Arteta can finally step out of the shadow of coach Josep Guardiola (Image: PA)
And yes, Arsenal need to go to the Etihad. However, Arsenal have the most depth of players and will only be considered the best if they actually win the title.
If you talk to the coaches during the game, they’ll all say Arsenal are the best coached team, the best-coached team and this is their year.
The biggest factor against them is fear. I know City have come on the rails in the past and passed them. Arteta will be looking nervously in the rear-view mirror. City definitely have the pedigree and experience.
But this is a big chance for Arsenal. A fascinating battle unfolds. And it’s a rivalry that mirrors City’s clash with Liverpool over the past few years. That’s why this year has the potential to be a classic title race, and the screeching flop time has already begun.
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