Arsenal will be looking to pile the pressure on Manchester City in the Premier League title race this weekend when they face Fulham at the Emirates Stadium
The Premier League title battle takes priority for Arsenal this weekend as they attempt to increase the pressure on Manchester City. Mikel Arteta’s team currently sit three points clear of City in the standings, though the Sky Blues do have a game in hand.
Arsenal are in action on Saturday evening as they host Fulham at the Emirates. The fixture arrives just three days following the club’s Champions League semi-final first leg against Atletico Madrid.
Spot-kicks from Viktor Gyokeres and Julian Alvarez ensured the last-four encounter finished in a 1-1 stalemate, with everything still to decide in the return leg. That match will be staged at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday evening.
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This means the coming days could prove pivotal for Arsenal in shaping their campaign – across both the Premier League and the Champions League. Before the crucial fixtures, here is a look at some recent updates.
Pep Guardiola admission
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has conceded that he will likely tune into Arsenal’s Premier League meeting with Fulham as the title race intensifies. The Gunners have the opportunity to heap pressure on City, with Guardiola’s squad not featuring until Monday evening.
When questioned in his pre-match media briefing whether he’ll be watching Arsenal’s match on Saturday, he said: “What time do they play? It’s after a training session, so maybe I will watch it.”
Victory for Arsenal would propel them six points ahead of City, though their rivals would still possess two games in hand. City head to Everton just over 48 hours after Arsenal’s fixture.
Arteta comments slammed
Mikel Arteta has come under fire from former Arsenal defender William Gallas. The Gunners’ manager voiced his frustration at the decision to overturn a penalty awarded to his side in the 1-1 draw against Atletico Madrid.
Eberechi Eze appeared to have been brought down in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final. Although the spot-kick was initially awarded, referee Danny Makkelie reversed his decision following a VAR review.
The incident prompted a furious response from Arteta after the match. However, Gallas has taken aim at the Spaniard’s conduct.
“In terms of the Ebere Eze penalty which was overturned, and Mikel Arteta’s comments on it after the game… look, I can only say so much about it because I’m not the manager, and I know there are lots of emotions on these occasions,” he told Ladbrokes. “But, for me, regardless of whether it was or wasn’t a penalty, you shouldn’t be coming out of a game like that and looking for something or someone to blame.
“I’m not happy about that, because if you go back and look at decisions made by referees throughout the season – and this isn’t just about Arsenal, by the way – both in the Premier League, and in Europe, you will find plenty of examples of moments where certain decisions have gone in your favour, and you aren’t coming out after those games and talking about how the wrong decision was made.
“You know, on Wednesday night, that decision didn’t favour Arsenal, but there have been other moments in other games where certain decisions have favoured them… I like to see the manager staying focused and talking about the way his team played, or what they could have done better, rather than jumping on that opportunity to blame the referee or the people behind VAR.”
Arsenal vs Atlético Madrid VIP and hospitality tickets
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