Manchester City have just closed the gap to Arsenal after beating Newcastle United.
The two Premier League title rivals are separated by just two points after 27 games, and many feel Pep Guardiola’s side are the favourites to win it now.
That puts massive pressure on Mikel Arteta and his players, who are desperate to get over the line after finishing second three seasons in a row.
However, Guardiola himself doesn’t seem confident about a perfect end to the season.
How concerned are you that Arsenal are ‘bottling it’ again?
Pep Guardiola thinks Manchester City are definitely going to drop points during the title race with Arsenal
Manchester City are one of the best sides in Premier League history during the business end of the season.
The Sky Blues go up a level in the final months of the campaign, and that is why they have been so successful under Guardiola.
Arsenal learned that the hard way in the 2023/24 season. They lost just one of their last 18 games, but City still pipped them to the title that campaign.
There is an expectation among neutrals and even some Arsenal fans that the same will happen this season, but Guardiola thinks otherwise.
Speaking after the win against Newcastle United, the City boss surprisingly claimed that his team will drop points in the final 11 games.
He said, as relayed on HaytersTV: “I promise you, honestly, many things are going to happen. I have the feeling that we are not going to win all the games.
“I don’t know about Arsenal, but I have the feeling we are not going to win all the games. This is my feeling, because the FA Cup will come, the Champions League will come, travels…
“The Carabao Cup final is different because there is an international break after, but many, many games, injuries are going to come, and many things are going to happen.”
Did Arsenal blow their Premier League title chances vs Wolves or is Ange Postecoglou still right?
Arsenal’s squad depth could make the difference in the title race
Guardiola is spot on about the relentless schedule, as FA Cup and Champions League fixtures will likely have an impact on the Premier League title race.
That is also the stage of the season where players could get fatigued and suffer injuries because there’s little time to recover.
Arsenal will face the same problems as Manchester City, and an argument can be made that they will drop points in the final 11 games too.
However, the small advantage Arteta could have is that the Gunners’ squad depth is the best in the league this season, and they could cope with those issues.
It remains to be seen what will happen, but everything suggests that this title race will go down to the wire.
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
