2 weeks ago
We are nearing nan extremity crippled now.
As Manchester City leader Pep Guardiola alternatively succinctly put it: “One week left, 3 games left. Nine points and we will beryllium champions. Seven, six aliases 3 points, Arsenal will triumph nan Premier League.”
Guardiola is not placing overmuch religion successful Manchester United then, fixed he expects Arsenal to triumph each crippled and nan Gunners sojourn Old Trafford connected 12 May.
But, then, he doesn’t person to.
If City triumph their last 3 games they will spell into nan history books arsenic nan first squad to triumph nan English title successful 4 successive seasons.
Four Erling Haaland goals against Wolves ensured City navigated their latest obstacle pinch ease. Now it is connected to Craven Cottage and Fulham, a squad they person beaten 15 times successful a row.
They decorativeness pinch West Ham astatine home. City person not dropped a constituent astatine Etihad Stadium against nan Hammers since Guardiola arrived successful 2016.
In betwixt comes a travel to Tottenham. City person not scored a Premier League extremity aliases taken a constituent astatine Spurs’ caller stadium. They did triumph location successful nan FA Cup this season, though, and Ange Postecoglou’s squad are successful unspeakable form.
And, arsenic Wolves leader Gary O’Neil pointed out, this is nan hardest clip to play City.
“Manchester City, successful May, erstwhile they are chasing down a 4th consecutive Premier League title, are reasonably tough,” he said.
“They person an unthinkable attraction astatine this point. History tells you, astatine this constituent successful nan run-in, they are difficult to stop.”
The 1 antagonistic for City is that Arsenal’s extremity quality is amended by six, which intends they person to triumph to scope nan top. A tie will not do.
“Goal quality is not possible,” Guardiola said. “We cannot draw. We person to return 9 points.”
In a abstracted question and reply pinch BBC Match of nan Day, he added: “Hopefully, we tin travel backmost present successful a fewer days and person nan chance against West Ham to travel present and triumph nan title.”
For City to get to nan West Ham crippled and not person a chance of nan title, it would require Arsenal to hit Manchester United and for City to get nary much than a constituent from nan Fulham and Tottenham trips.
That feels improbable for a squad that has put an astonishing tally together of 16 wins and 4 draws since they were beaten astatine Aston Villa connected 6 December.
Not that it should travel arsenic a surprise.
Last season, City went connected a 16-match unbeaten run, winning 14 times, to return nan title earlier they mislaid astatine Brentford connected nan last day. The twelvemonth earlier that, they won 23 times successful a tally of 1 conclusion successful 28. The play earlier that, they won 17 times successful a 19-match unbeaten sequence.
“When you are coming towards nan extremity of nan season, you do deliberation differently,” erstwhile City defender Micah Richards told Sky Sports. “These games are nan astir important and that’s wherever City look to thrive.”
As Richards’ chap pundit Jamie Redknapp said, Arsenal’s task is straightforward.
They must triumph astatine Old Trafford and past again against Everton connected nan last day. Anything other is wholly retired of their hands.
Given nan tally Mikel Arteta’s broadside person been on, and nan 2 seasons they person had, fewer would begrudge nan Gunners a first title since 2004.
But, arsenic Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool person recovered out, moving City adjacent and overhauling them are 2 different matters.
“They are an unbelievable team,” said Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice. “What I person learned successful this title title is that you person to beryllium astir perfect. They person done that for 3 years successful a row.
“I person monolithic respect for what they person done. But we person 2 games to spell and we’re praying for thing to spell our way.”
