The race for the Premier League title could be all but decided when Arsenal face Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium this weekend.
Arsenal will have one hand on the Premier League trophy if they manage to keep Manchester City at bay. The Gunners will lock horns with Pep Guardiola’s side at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon as they each look to secure a footing in the title race.
Manchester City narrowed the deficit to just six points last weekend after running riot at Stamford Bridge. Alex Scott fired Bournemouth to a 2-1 victory against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium before the Citizens enjoyed a 3-0 win over Chelsea.
Although the Gunners have a comfortable lead at the top of the table, Manchester City could claim first place if they bank three points this weekend and win their game in hand. Equally, Arsenal could all but extinguish their rival’s hopes of winning the Premier League, even if they only return to north London with a point.
Manchester City will certainly fancy their chances this weekend, having not lost at home to the Gunners since January 2015, when Manuel Pellegrini was still in charge. Arsenal are, however, unbeaten in their last five Premier League games against Guardiola’s side, winning two and drawing three.
FOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE! Latest Gunners news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page
So, with that being said, journalists at football.london have predicted the score.
Patrick Austen-Hardy
This will not be a game to remember. Against Sporting Lisbon, the only person with a real smile on their face was Mikel Arteta. Arsenal deployed four central defenders against the Portuguese side and made the game as stodgy as possible.
Away to Manchester City, they will look to do the same again. City are in their pomp and full of confidence, while the only things the Gunners are doing well is defending and set pieces – even the latter have not been finding their mark as much.
Right now, the points City do not gain are as important as the ones the Gunners pick up. If Arsenal are able to scrape a tedious 0-0 draw at the Etihad Stadium, they, and their nervous, frantic fan-base, would take it.
The Gunners have a promising run in with winnable games against Newcastle (H), Fulham (H), West Ham (A), Burnley (H) and Crystal Palace (A) after the clash against City. Considering their form, a drab stalemate would mean the world to the Gunners, even if they cannot stop yawning during the match.
PATRICK AUSTEN-HARDY’S prediction: 0-0
Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package
Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.
Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.
Aaron Morris
The pressure that Arsenal will be feeling to bounce back from last weekend’s home hiccup to Bournemouth may be too hot to handle at the Etihad Stadium this weekend, considering the remarkable form that Manchester City are also in at the moment.
It’s undoubtedly the most important match of the season for Mikel Arteta, with their first Premier League title in over two decades potentially riding on a 90-minute war with Pep Guardiola’s Sky Blues. That’s given that just six points separate first and second at present, with City holding a valuable game in hand over the Gunners.
For City, the task is clear – it’s a must-win match should Guardiola hope to clinch the seventh league title of his tenure in Greater Manchester. Therefore, I expect nothing short of an attacking onslaught from the hosts when Sunday’s match rolls around.
Of course, Arsenal have one of the best defences in the league, but as September’s 1-1 reverse at the Emirates Stadium proved, it is not impregnable. On the flip side, a draw should be enough to push the Gunners to safety headed into their final five matches – uncatchable if they are perfect against Newcastle United, Fulham, West Ham, Burnley and Crystal Palace.
Given City will have the Etihad to roar them on, and they head into the fixture fresher as a result of Arsenal’s midweek tie with Sporting CP in the Champions League, I expect City to run riot over their Premier League rivals, Rayan Cherki doing what he does best in aggravating defenders and Erling Haaland proving an unstoppable force. Sorry, Gunners fans.
AARON MORRIS’ prediction: 2-0
Connor O’Neill
Unfortunately for Arsenal, it is hard to see anything other than a victory for Manchester City this weekend.
Pep Guardiola’s side look back to their best, and when they get the bit between their teeth like they have at the minute, they are very hard to stop.
However, there is no reason why Mikel Arteta’s side can’t frustrate the hosts and certainly make their life difficult.
But the harsh reality for the Gunners is that I can’t see them keeping a clean sheet, and once City go ahead, you suspect they will go on to claim all three points.
However, the one thing I would say is that if City do win on Sunday, then it isn’t a given that they go on to win the title. There are still more twists and turns to come.
CONNOR O’NEILL’S prediction: 2-0
Sam Truelove
Here it is then. The big one. The game which will probably decide who lifts the Premier League trophy come May.
I think it will be an extremely cagey affair. I don’t want it to be, but Mikel Arteta will probably take a draw if you offered it to him now. City, meanwhile, need a win.
I’m predicting a draw for this one, though. Either 0-0 or 1-1. I think if Arsenal score it will be from a set piece (shock) and they will look to slow the game down as much as possible.
SAM TRUELOVE’s prediction: 1-1
Jake Stokes
I think Manchester City will just edge it. Pep Guardiola’s side will have had the entire week to prepare for the title showdown, whereas Arsenal will only have had three days to recharge their batteries, train and travel.
While the Gunners could be sharper, having faced Sporting CP in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night, they’ve not exactly got a clean bill of health. Mikel Arteta has been juggling quite a few injuries recently, so he’s not been able to rotate as much as he perhaps would’ve liked.
Although Arsenal will have a point to prove, having been the butt of the joke for some time, Manchester City will be relishing the opportunity to make up significant ground in the title race. Guardiola will be in his element, as will the squad, which is full of serial winners who have performed time and time again when the lights have shone brightest.
The Gunners are in a rut and haven’t looked great for a while now. It’s like they’ve been struggling to keep their head above water. But the pressure is on Manchester City to win. Not Arsenal.
A draw would be a great result for an out-of-form team that just needs some respite. And that’s exactly why they’ll lose. Take this as my vote of no confidence!
JAKE STOKES’ prediction: 2-1
