Arsenal would’ve liked what they saw unfold at Anfield, up until the 92nd minute.
Liverpool took the lead at Anfield when hosting Manchester City in a blockbuster tie in the title race.
If Man City had lost, Arsenal would’ve remained a statement nine points clear, but Pep Guardiola’s side came from behind to win.
Arsenal have been warned about City ever since, and to be honest, the narrative is a bit boring.
Agree or disagree, Man City showed a HUGE mentality weakness after beating Liverpool
Did Pep Guardiola and Bernardo Silva mess up here?
Arsenal’s biggest challenge in the Premier League title race is the media
The reporting of the Premier League title race is frustrating, as there’s no rational thinking.
If Arsenal win, they’re certain champions, but if Man City respond, it’s all eyes on how the Gunners can slip up.
There’s no in-between, which is what made the drama at Anfield particularly alarming for Arsenal.
Listening to Sky Sports’ coverage of the match made it so clear that Mikel Arteta’s biggest challenge isn’t racing City to the title, it’s ensuring that his players mute the media.
If someone who had no knowledge of Gary Neville tuned into the coverage at Anfield, they’d think the pundit was a Man City legend, not one belonging to their biggest rivals.
Countless times, Neville put pressure on Arsenal during the fixture, and unnecessarily so.
Arsenal fans, what did you think of Gary Neville’s comments during Man City’s win over Liverpool?
“Well, ten minutes ago the title race was done,” Neville said after City scored their equaliser.
He added, “It was now or never for Man City – it’s now! Sometimes in a title race, a team will grab an opportunity, City have grabbed one.”
Moments after stating that the title race was done, Neville went on to say, “They could be within three points by Wednesday, which will put pressure on Arsenal. It’s bedlam out there, it’s blue bedlam.”
His co-commentator, Peter Drury, was the same, consistently stating that the title race is wide open.
The remarks were as frustrating as they were funny, as the title race was no more open than it was at the start of the matchweek.
Arsenal started matchweek 25 six points clear and ended it six points clear, as facts outweighed the narrative that Neville, in particular, was trying desperately to push.
Bukayo Saka was so right about the media
The Arsenal squad need to mute the external pressure that is building; it’s as simple as that.
What is Arsenal’s biggest title race threat, Man City or media pressure?
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Fortunately, the Gunners are already conditioned to be that way, as Bukayo Saka told talkSPORT back in November.
“We can’t get carried away with what people are saying because one day they’ll say something, the next day they’ll say something different.”
The interviewer recalled that Liverpool were favourites at the start of the 2025/26 season, to which Saka responded: “Exactly. It changes like the weather, so we can’t pay attention to that.”
It’s a relief for Arsenal fans that the squad are clearly focused on themselves and what lies ahead, as we’ve learned the hard way what the repercussions of falling to media pressures are.
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