Arsenal are expecting a chance to leapfrog Manchester City.
Arsenal have closed the gap on Manchester City in recent years.
In each of the last two seasons, the Gunners have been able to mount a serious title challenge, before finishing as runners up in the Premier League on both occasions.
The objective for this new campaign will be to go one step better and actually become Premier League champions. However, Mikel Arteta will recognise that in Manchester City, and their long-standing dominance, the North London club have a huge hurdle to overcome.
The messaging coming out from the Emirates Stadium is clear. Arteta is aiming for major silverware, and he has very recently made that plain.
Ultimately, though, whilst Pep Guardiola remains in situ at the Etihad Stadium, many will have Manchester City down as favourites to retain their crown.
Arsenal waiting for Manchester City exodus
However, Arsenal now have reason to believe that a window of opportunity may be set to soon open up before them.
Journalist Ian Ladyman, speaking on the It’s All Kicking Off podcast, has now revealed his insight into goings-on in the North West that will give the Gunners hope that change is on the horizon.
The reporter claimed: “I think there could be a huge opportunity here… Suggestions that this might be the last year for Pep. We don’t know, there are slightly mixed messages coming out from City on that one.
“What I do know is at City there is a fear that when Guardiola does eventually go, because he can’t stay forever, when he goes, Txiki Begiristain, the director of football, will possibly go as well. There’s also a fear that Ferran Soriano, the chief executive, could go as well.
“It may not just be the best club manager in the world that walks out of City, he may be followed by two people, his two allies, his two friends, who actually preceded his arrival… They’ve built the modern Manchester City between them.
“I’m not saying the door is going to be wide open for a club like Arsenal, but it might just be ajar.”
Arsenal preparing Mikel Arteta to oversee rise to the top
Arteta has now signed a new Arsenal contract, that will keep him at the club for the next three years. It would seem likely that Guardiola will have departed Manchester City before Arteta reaches the end of his term.
If Txiki Begiristain and Ferran Soriano were to follow Guardiola out of Manchester City next summer, then there would surely be a period of reset, rebuilding, and transition at the club, which would likely see their grip upon the top spot loosen.
In the case of this eventuality, the Gunners have to be ready to pounce. By securing Arteta’s future, after the progress he has already overseen, they have taken a positive step towards positioning themselves to become the next dominant force in English football.
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