Man City vs. Arsenal: A Premier League Title is at Stake

Manchester City host Arsenal this Sunday in a clash many are declaring a potential Premier League title decider.

Arsenal’s last victory on Manchester City turf came in January 2015; however, a first win at the Etihad in over a decade this weekend would leave them on the brink of their first Premier League title in more than 20 years.

The league leaders will also be out for revenge after last month’s Carabao Cup final. Manchester City ran out 2-0 winners, with Nico O’Reilly’s brace still fresh in the memory.

If City were to win this Sunday, it would leave the Premier League title race firmly in the balance, Arsenal’s lead at the top would be reduced to three points and having played a game more than their title rivals.

City will go into this game full of confidence, having won their last three matches on the bounce. It’s a run that has delivered Carabao Cup glory, secured an FA Cup semi-final place, and piled fresh pressure on Arsenal’s title challenge.

They were particularly impressive in the second half away at Chelsea last week, scoring freely to secure a 3-0 victory. Rayan Cherki was at his elusive best, unlocking Chelsea’s defense and creating the first two goals.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said: “We need to get even better. The first half against Chelsea was not bad but not great; the first 30 minutes against Liverpool was not good either. The first 30 minutes against Arsenal in the final they were better.

“You cannot pretend that these kinds of teams will be 90 to 95 minutes perfect, but this one aspect is not about the future, present or past, it’s about confidence, which is an incredible aspect. If you could buy confidence in a supermarket we would buy it immediately. It is one of the most important aspects. The reality is, there are seven games left in the Premier League and that is the decisive moment.”

Arsenal’s last outing came in midweek against Sporting Lisbon, where a 0-0 draw, following their first leg victory, was enough to secure a place in the Champions League semi-finals against Atlético Madrid, marking the first time they have reached the last four in back-to-back seasons.

However, they have been faltering in other competitions of late; suffering defeats to Championship side Southampton in the FA Cup and AFC Bournemouth last time out in the league, in what could prove to be an extremely damaging 2-1 home defeat.

Despite recent inconsistencies, ahead of Sunday’s clash, manager Mikel Arteta said: “It is certainly the most important one because it is the next one. We have earned the opportunity to win against arguably the best team and the best manager this league has ever seen. We will prepare the game to win it, that is for sure, and not spend one second talking about that (drawing the game). Every game, we prepare to win.”

Arsenal will be sweating on the fitness of a number of key players ahead of this pivotal clash. Bukayo Saka has not featured since the Carabao Cup final and Arteta has confirmed the Englishman is out.

The news of Saka’s absence was compounded in midweek, following a knee injury concern for fellow right-winger Noni Madueke, who was forced off against Sporting Lisbon. Arteta is ‘hopeful’ that the issue will not rule him out of this weekend’s clash.

If both were to be ruled out, Arteta may be forced to turn to 16-year-old Max Dowman, who would then be Arsenal’s only other recognised option on the right wing.

Full-backs Ricardo Callafiori and Jürien Timber, who have played key parts in Arsenal’s exemplary defensive record this season, are also doubts as they work to be fit for the game. Captain Martin Ødegaard is also likely to miss the match.

Arteta added:  “We will try again. Some players are quite close. We will try to push everybody.”

Manchester City’s team news is slightly more straightforward. Left-back Nico O’Reilly, who has emerged as an unexpected source of goals in recent weeks, hobbled off with a reported hamstring injury last weekend, however Guardiola confirmed that the Englishman will be ‘fine.’

Aside from that, Rúben Dias and Joško Gvardiol remain long-term absentees.

Despite not having won at the Etihad in over a decade, Arsenal would likely be content to replicate their last two visits, both of which ended in draws. That result that would keep them firmly in control of the Premier League title race and leave them in a strong position heading into the final stretch of the season.

The reverse fixture earlier this season ended in a 1-1 draw, with Gabriel Martinelli’s late dink over Donnarumma securing a point, one that, in hindsight, proved to be a crucial goal in the context of the wider season.

The title cannot be fully decided on Sunday; however, the outcome could go a long way in shaping the direction of the race.