EPL title up for grabs as Manchester City and Arsenal prepare for crunch clash

LONDON – This time in March, Arsenal were seemingly in the fast lane to their first Premier League title in 22 years, with a stuttering Manchester City leaking points and losing ground.

On April 19, however, a rejuvenated City will know that victory over the Gunners in a showdown at the Etihad Stadium would make them favourites to reclaim the crown.

Arsenal’s surprise 2-1 home defeat by Bournemouth last weekend re-opened the race and City’s subsequent 3-0 win at Chelsea cut the gap to six points with a game in hand.

If City prevail and then win at relegation-bound Burnley three days later, they would top the table with five games to go.

That would leave Arsenal facing the unedifying prospect of a fourth successive runners-up spot.

Should that happen, it would be a crushing blow for Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, whose desperation to deliver the title appears to be weighing heavily on his players.

In contrast, City manager Pep Guardiola, with all his experience after guiding his team to six Premier League titles in nine seasons, knows exactly what his men must do – focus.

When asked on April 17 if this match would be a “final”, he said: “Yeah, obviously. If we lose, yeah, it’s over.

“But still we have games to play. Still many things to do.

“Today I will say to the players... we have to approach it like a (normal) football game. Really important, of course, but if we are distracted too much by emotions, this kind of things, then you will lose the focus.

“We are good, we are ready... Six points is not a short distance, but we have the chance to do it. Now it depends on our behaviour, the team will be ready, our fans (in the stadium) sold out. Everything is perfect to try to play the game.

“We have to do a perfect (performance), almost a top, top level to win (against) Arsenal.”

He added that if he does win the Premier League this season, it would not be his best at the club.

“For many new players it is good to be in that position, to learn for the future and for the next seasons,” he said.

“To be there especially after many years and many titles and still being in the title race is good but it is not our greatest achievement.”

While Arsenal are still very much masters of their own fate with even a draw at City an acceptable outcome, they will need no reminder of what happened in 2023.

On that April day, Arsenal arrived at the Etihad Stadium as Premier League leaders five points ahead of City, albeit having played two games more.

But City tore them apart in a 4-1 victory that crushed Arsenal’s spirit and propelled Guardiola’s side to a third successive league title by five points.

There is something about April that brings out the best in City under Guardiola.

Since a loss to Leeds United in April 2021, they have won 20 of their 22 Premier League games in the month, drawing two.

After a season of inconsistency and dropped points, Guardiola’s men are again clicking at just the right time with March’s statement 2-0 League Cup final victory over Arsenal followed by a 4-0 FA Cup rout of Liverpool and the hammering of Chelsea.

While City have not lost at home to Arsenal in the league for 11 years, they know they have zero margin for error on April 19.

On the injury front, the club confirmed that influential centre-back Ruben Dias has been ruled out with an ankle injury he picked up in March, and he is not likely to be back for the rest of April.

Arsenal will be buoyed by their 1-0 aggregate win over Sporting in the Champions League quarter-finals on April 15.

They are also unbeaten in their last five Premier League games against City and have players who are capable of delivering a knockout blow.

They must free themselves of the nerves that strangled them against Bournemouth, though, or it could be a long afternoon.

“The Etihad is the ultimate test but it’s why we play this game,” said Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice.

“Manchester City have obviously been in really good form... but ultimately, it’s down to us as players.

“To go there and win would be a massive statement. We know what’s required.” REUTERS