Arsenal are back on top of the Premier League table after beating Newcastle United.
The Gunners had dropped down to second place for the first time in 200 days after their defeat to Manchester City last weekend.
The Sky Blues have a game in hand now, so they could still return to the top if they win that, but the advantage is in Arsenal’s hands right now.
However, Pep Guardiola has just done something that Mikel Arteta doesn’t have the luxury to do – give days off to his players.
🏆👀 I am feeling __% confident that Arsenal will win the Premier League title this season…
Pep Guardiola gives Manchester City players three days off
Manchester City survived a scare and qualified for the final of the FA Cup after beating Southampton on Saturday.
The game at the Etihad finished just a few moments before the full-time whistle was blown in the clash between Arsenal and Newcastle United at the Emirates.
Guardiola would’ve heard about the Gunners’ result soon after, and he now knows that his side have to win their game in hand to stay alive in the title race.
That may have played a part in his decision to give his players three full days off.
“Now it’s important that we have three days off for the players – I told them, ‘don’t think about football, rest,'” he said, as relayed on Hayters TV.
That is a big advantage as it will give them plenty of time to recover and be ready for their Premier League game against Everton next weekend.
At Arsenal, however, it’s impossible for Arteta to do that because the Gunners face Atletico Madrid in the semi-final of the Champions League on Wednesday.
Then, less than three days later, the leaders face Fulham at the Emirates.
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This has been one of the most gruelling seasons for every club in the history of the Premier League.
All the sides are struggling with injuries, and games every few days are making things worse because players don’t have time to recover.
The fact that Arsenal are being forced to play on Saturday evening after a Champions League away game on Wednesday night is just disgraceful.
Manchester City, on the other hand, don’t have to worry about playing until Monday night. They get nine full days of time to prepare for that game.
This is unacceptable when the title race is so tight, but Arsenal just have to accept it and get the job done.
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