This season’s title race has officially warmed up, as Arsenal and Manchester City are neck and neck going into their final games. The Gunners have led the way for 246 of the last 249 days, as Mikel Arteta’s young guns capitalised on their electric start to the season, showing an impressively strong mentality for such a young side as they held off this revered City side. However, the pressure appears to have taken its toll, as the North Londoners have slumped to 3 straight draws, surrendering two 2 goal leads in the process. Meanwhile, City continue to chase the treble and are left in a unique position in which they may have to win all of their remaining 12 fixtures to complete the treble.
As for who will win the title, the debate is still well and truly up in the air, as tonight’s crunch fixture looks certain to have a monumental say in the matter. Here, we take a look at the key factors that may well determine who walks away with the trophy.
The Fixtures:
Arsenal’s fixture list is not a nice sight for their supporters, as their next 4 games are a real daunting prospect. Following tonight’s crucial game against challengers Man City, the Gunners face big rivals Chelsea at the Emirates, travel to St. James’ Park against Champions League contenders Newcastle United before rounding of the run in against Brighton, as the high-flying seagulls visit the Emirates chasing European football for the first time in their history. In the situation they are in, its very likely that Arsenal will need to take maximum points from these fixtures if they want to win the league for the first time in 19 years. Mikel Arteta’s men will need to display the courage and mental strength they have shown throughout this campaign, a trait they have so desperately lacked in their previous 3 outings.
As for City, the Mancunians’ fixture list makes for pleasant reading as they face 5 bottom half teams in their remaining 8 games. The main worry for Pep Guardiola’s side is the fixture congestion, as the Spaniard has his side on course to complete the highly sought-after treble and so fixtures against Titans such as Real Madrid are intertwined with trips to hostile English stadiums like Goodison Park. Thankfully for Pep, squad depth is not a huge concern as City arguably boast the strongest squad in Europe, as they continue to use their financial power wisely, seemingly bolstering each position in every transfer window, but this will be no easy feat. As the pressure ramps up, the players will be sure to feel it mentally as well as physically, however the Sky Blues will be hopeful their players are experienced enough to cope under such pressures, given all they’ve achieved in previous years.
The Teams:
There will be a sense of trepidation around the Emirates over the side they are competing with, as City have a plethora of world class players all over the pitch, and a vast honours list to boot. Mikel Arteta has done an extremely impressive job in building a squad capable of being a force in English football for years to come, however having worked first hand with City as assistant manager, he of all people will be well aware of the dangers City pose. Defensively organised, dominant in possession and ruthless in front of goal, the firepower at City’s disposal is almost impossible to deal with. Coupled with their clinical edge and defensive resilience, they are also excellent in transition, as they shut down any potential attacks instantly, due to their high fitness levels and fluid tactical structure. Going up against a side of this quality is a challenge, however Arsenal have shown themselves well capable of putting up a fight and testing City in their own unique style. No matter the final table, it will be an intriguing battle to say the least.
The Managers:
Both clubs have the honour to say they possess a genuine world class manager as Guardiola continues to prove why he is one of the greatest ever coaches, and Arteta has shown he is capable of building a side capable of competing for major honours. Both graduates of La Masia, the Spaniards opt for a possession-based style of play, utilising their time on the ball to build attacks from defensive areas, through intricate passing moves. Targeting the space in behind the full backs is a big part of their styles, and it is something that the two sides score plenty of goals from.
There were concerns that, having been Guardiola’s assistant for some time, Arteta’s Arsenal would be a carbon copy of Man City, however he has proven that, despite some similarities, he has his own views on how the game is played and he is capable of implementing them on his team. One thing Arteta doesn’t have, though, is the experience Pep has. Having been managing at the highest level since 2008, Guardiola has been involved in much bigger games than tonight’s, whereas for Arteta this is arguably the biggest game of his tenure thus far. This could be seen as a bonus for City, as there will be more of a calmness about them going into the fixture, whilst Arsenal could potentially showcase the nerves that have been jangling in their recent performances. And given the importance of this evening’s tie, it could prove a vital factor in determining the outcome of the table come May’s end.
These 3 factors are going to be key in deciding who is crowned champions, and whilst City have the more favourable run-in, a stronger squad and a better manager, there is no reason why Arsenal can’t claim their 13th league title. They have demonstrated time and time again that they are worthy of being champions and, so long as they remain composed, they are good enough to take the title to the Emirates for the first time in their history. This season’s title race is in the strange scenario where, for now, it is still in both teams’ hands and in a game with such media scrutiny and both clubs with everything to play for, it may well come down to bottle. Either way, football fans can expect a proper game of football.