A 4-1 result for Manchester City over Arsenal in the midweek title decider at Etihad Stadium means Pep Guardiola’s men are in pole position to land their fifth Premier League title in six years. Erling Haaland assisted two Kevin De Bruyne goals before getting himself on the scoresheet to break the top-scoring record in a single Premier League season in the current format with 33 and 49 goals overall in all competition this season. City are still two points behind the league leaders but with two games in hand. All is not lost for the Gunners who had otherwise witnessed an incredible season although their title faith is not in their hands.
For the Gunners to win the title from here, City need to slip somewhere in the remaining games. Arsenal are themselves in a poor patch of form with this defeat coming after three simultaneous draws to Southampton, West Ham and Liverpool denting their title run. In contrast, the chasing champions are on a seven-game winning run scoring 19 goals with an average of 2.7 goals per game and conceding only five times. City have not dropped points since a 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest or lost since February in the league carrying an enormous momentum to get them over the line.
Premier League table
Arsenal leads the Premier League table with 76 points having collected 23 wins from 33 games and losing four. They have drawn more games than second-placed Manchester City with six to four. Guardiola’s side are behind by two points with 72 points although played two fewer games than their title rivals collecting the same number of wins and losing an equal number of games. It is the draws that have cost the Gunners from having a firm hold on the top place.
City are also ahead on goal difference with a +53 compared to Arsenal’s +40 courtesy of scoring the most goals in the league with 82 and conceding just 29. They also lead on the head-to-head record having won both the fixtures with the league leaders in the Premier League so if the points are level at the end of the season, the defending champions will retain their title.
Arsenal
Arsenal’s schedule does not ease up after their defeat to Manchester City in the crucial season-defining game. Instead, that was the start of a crunching schedule which includes facing Chelsea at home then making the trip to St James Park to face Champions League chasers Newcastle and then welcoming a flamboyant Brighton side in three straight Premier League games. This period will decide if they can cling to the top of the table or not. Even if they come out of those games unscratched, The Gunners don’t know which side of Nottingham Forest or Wolves will turn up in the final two games of their Premier League season with at least Forest battling relegation.
However, Mikel Arteta’s men returning to winning ways and finishing the season strongly won’t be enough if Manchester City’s train keeps on moving like they are now. They could only wish that European ambition for the second-placed side bring enough pressure or fatigue causing a lack of concentration in their league run. That is a slice of luck Arsenal cannot rely upon and should focus on improving their lackluster form over the last four games for better results ahead leaving the rest to decide for itself.
Chelsea - home (2 May 2023)
Newcastle - away (7 May 2023)
Brighton - home (14 May 2023)
Nottingham Forest - away (20 May 2023)
Wolves - home (28 May 2023)
Manchester City
Manchester City wanted this pressure to pile up on the league leaders and they successfully inflicted it in the top-two clash. Being the favorites to take all three points in front of the home crowd, the holders did not disappoint. It is their title to lose now having two more games in their hand to close down the two-point gap to first place. City have a more calming schedule than the Gunners with three relegation battlers to face in the next four games, two at home. They will overtake Arsenal at the top of the table this weekend with a win at Fulham as the North Londoners do not play until Tuesday night.
Also chasing a historical treble this season with a huge semifinal tie against Champions League holders Real Madrid to play next month which is bound to be energy drawing and demanding like in the previous meeting last season at the same stage of the competition. A trip to Goodison Park to face relegation-threatened Everton falls in between and that fixture could be used to decrease the load. If City are fine until then, the next three matches could determine their title faith. Chelsea, possibly under a new manager by then, could be a different side than now while the two challenging trips to Brighton and Brentford in the final two games will be defining. Roberto Di Zerbi's side has defeated some top sides at AMEX this season whereas the Bees won the reverse fixture at Etihad so if City are to falter these are the matches. For now, it does not seem this well-balanced side will lose the race from here.
Fulham - away (30 April 2023)
West Ham - home (3 May 2023)
Leeds - home (6 May 2023)
Real Madrid in Champions League - away (10 May 2023)
Everton - away (14 May 2023)
Real Madrid in Champions League - home (18 May 2023)
Chelsea - home (21 May 2023)
Brighton - away (25 May 2023)
Brentford - away (28 May 2023)
