The second confrontation of the 2023-2024 season was of much greater importance in the title race. At the end of March 2024, Liverpool were top of the table, but Arsenal could have taken top spot by winning at the Etihad Stadium.
Once again, the match was lively, but this time it ended in a goalless draw. Arteta hadn’t necessarily ‘parked the bus’, but his team played with a conservatism that Arsenal hadn’t displayed away against City in years. In some ways this approach was understandable, although it eventually came under criticism when City snatched the title from them by a single point.
After lifting the Premier League trophy for the fourth time in a row, Rodri made his feelings on Arsenal clear. “To be honest, I think it’s there,” he said, pointing to his head. “It’s a question of mentality. Arsenal also deserve (to win the championship), they had an incredible season, but I think the difference was there (in their heads).
“When they came here and played us at the Etihad, I looked at them and said, ‘Ah, these guys, they don’t want to beat us, they just want a draw.’ And that mentality, I don’t think we would do the same thing. And we caught up with them. In the end, if we are given a point lead, we will win the last seven or eight matches, even if it is very hard. So I think it’s all about mentality. »
It was very easy for Rodri to say these words once the race was over. We remember that City almost squandered their one-point advantage going into the final day after narrowly beating Tottenham Hotspur in the penultimate match. However, history is written by the winners and Arsenal have not yet had the opportunity to write it their way.
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