Manchester City have signalled that they’re not going to let Arsenal entertain a one-horse Premier League title race.
Arsenal will be so wary of Man City’s building form, having watched Pep Guardiola’s side beat them to the title twice in the previous three seasons.
This season, Mikel Arteta really needs to win the Premier League, as the idea of a fourth consecutive second-place finish is not feasible.
At first, it looked as though Arsenal were head and shoulders above the rest in the Premier League, but Man City aren’t allowing the Gunners to think that way.
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Fill in the blank: I am feeling ______________ about the Premier League title race after GW16…
Manchester City now have a better goal difference than Arsenal
No matter how much Arsenal have evolved, the bottom line is that Arteta’s side won’t want another title race against Man City.
Guardiola hasn’t won 12 domestic titles by chance in his managerial career, being the manager to beat when it comes to silverware.
What’s a worry to Arsenal is that Man City turned a corner in matchweek 16, as Alan Pardew revealed when speaking on talkSPORT.
“I like the stats. I always say to you, when you talk about relegation and who’s going to win the league and the Champions League, forget about the point, start looking at the goal difference,” Pardew said.
“For the first time this calendar year, Manchester City’s goal difference is greater than Arsenal’s. So, they are beginning to go ‘we’re coming’, and we know what happens to the second half of Pep’s team usually is that they come on stronger.”
City usurped Arsenal’s goal difference with a statement 3-0 win at Crystal Palace, with their goal difference sitting at +22 and Arsenal’s at +20.
With five consecutive wins in all competitions, scoring 16 goals along the way, City have truly announced themselves in the title race, but it’s not entirely a cause for concern for Arsenal.
Arsenal have a defensive advantage over Man City
City can’t stop scoring, but defensively, they’re far from the finished article.
What decides the 2025/26 Premier League, Arsenal’s defence or Man City’s attack?
Guardiola’s side have conceded five goals in their previous four Premier League matches, which is half the tally Arsenal have conceded all season.
The Gunners are defensively superior to their rivals, giving Arteta some headway in the race for the title, but what it really could come down to is experience.
Jamie Carragher already thinks the Arsenal squad are overthinking the title race, which could play into City’s favour, just as it did in the 2022/23 season.
There’s so much football to play before May, giving both teams every chance of claiming the title, with all eyes on April’s clash at the Etihad.
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