This has been a dramatic weekend in the Premier League title race.
On Saturday, Arsenal were stunned at home by Bournemouth, losing 2-1 in front of a nervy crowd at the Emirates.
A day later Manchester City travelled to Stamford Bridge and swept Chelsea aside, winning 3-0 and narrowing Arsenal’s lead at the top of the table to six points.
With a game in hand, City have seven games to play and Arsenal have six. Next Sunday, the two teams face off at the Etihad in a match that will have a huge say on where the Premier League trophy ends up come May.
So, who is going to be lifting it? Arsenal or Manchester City? Nine of our writers have their say…
Adam Crafton
I’ve gone with Arsenal all season and I genuinely thought, given the quality and depth of their squad, that the only people who doubted this were Arsenal’s own supporters, who have been scarred by repeated late-season shortcomings in recent years. But now those fears are being realised and it looks like those Arsenal fans were right all along.
Arsenal look increasingly bereft, overly emotional and their best players are out of form. Throw in a Champions League semi-final double-header and the intensity and pressure will only increase. City, meanwhile, appear to have hit their stride and realised this title is there for the taking.
I’m still not sure this City quite have it in them to win every game, but the way Arsenal are going right now, you wonder whether they’ll need to.
So I’m pivoting to City….
Prediction: Manchester City
Seb Stafford-Bloor
Arsenal, just.
Already having the points on the board matters at this time of year, particularly because City lack the rhythm of previous sides. They have a stumble in them, are fallible, and do still need to win next weekend.
Clearly, Arsenal have issues on the front foot and with chance creation from open play, but would you fancy their chances away from home, in a game from which they only need a draw? Probably.
Take the emphasis off their attacking players and they remain an extremely compact and disciplined opponent.
If they survive at the Etihad, then the margin for error that would provide should alleviate pressure from what then looks like a straightforward run-in.
Prediction: Arsenal
Oliver Kay
Since around September, I’ve regarded Arsenal as favourites … but I’ve become less and less convinced — not because I doubt their “bottle” or resilience but because the way they are playing looks so constrained.
Until Saturday lunchtime, I still thought they would get over the line. But that was a terrible result against Bournemouth. I’ve gone from — and yes I’m plucking these percentages from the air — 75 per cent Arsenal at one stage to 60 per cent Arsenal a week ago to perhaps … 55 per cent Manchester City now.
Gabriel reacts after Arsenal’s defeat by Bournemouth (Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)
Next Sunday is huge. If Arsenal get so much as a draw at the Etihad Stadium, the pendulum will swing back firmly in their favour. I’m not sure City have the capacity to win out from here, like you would back previous City teams in such circumstances. But the way the leaders are performing, they might not have to.
Arsenal have to change the momentum and the narrative — fast.
Prediction: Manchester City
Daniel Taylor
Pep’s final hurrah? It’s definitely on.
Manchester City have title-winning experience. And so does the Etihad crowd, who are often the subject of mockery for their numbers but never seem prone to the kind of stage fright that gripped Arsenal’s stadium during Saturday’s defeat by Bournemouth.
So much rests on Sunday’s top-of-the-table showdown in Manchester and, if Arsenal lose again, I can see them crumbling and finishing with nothing.
What a way for Guardiola, potentially, to bow out after 10 years of changing the landscape in English football.
Prediction: Manchester City
Stuart James
Only last week I said that Arsenal would win it, partly because I thought Manchester City would have to be perfect to catch Arsenal — perfect as in win all eight remaining matches.
But the way that Arsenal played against Bournemouth concerned me more than the result. It was an awful performance. It is hard to escape the feeling that they were struggling to handle the pressure. City, in contrast, rolled Chelsea over.
The momentum has shifted significantly in the space of 24 hours. Clearly, the game at the Etihad is huge. But I’m swaying towards City now. How fickle of me.
Prediction: Manchester City
And Sheldon
Before the beginning of the season, I predicted Arsenal would win the Premier League by 10 points or more.
Despite Manchester City being the in-form team and Arsenal making their own life inexplicably harder, I would still rather be in their position than City’s.
Where the title ends up come May remains in Arsenal’s hands, and leaving the Etihad next weekend with a point — or three — would stifle City’s surge.
I may have to row back from thinking Arteta’s side will have a 10-point gap when the final whistle blows on their season on May 24, but I am still backing them to end a more than two-decade wait to lift the title.
Prediction: Arsenal
Simon Johnson
Having had the privilege of witnessing both sides get the better of Chelsea in recent weeks, there is no doubt who looks the more impressive of the two. Manchester City have far more attacking threats at their disposal and are not as reliant on set pieces as Arsenal.
The way in which Guardiola and his players celebrated as each goal went in at Stamford Bridge revealed a group that truly believe they can reel Arsenal in.
Manchester City’s Nico O’Reilly wheels away to celebrate after scoring against Chelsea (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Arsenal are not just fighting against Manchester City but also their recent history of not getting over the line. The contrasting experience of coming out on top in both camps will make the difference in the end.
Prediction: Manchester City
Colin Millar
Truly elite sides peak in the latter months of the season, but Arsenal are regressing as Manchester City are, belatedly, hitting their stride.
Arsenal have all the pressure, expectation and noise, both external and internal, to see this through. City do not have a 22-year albatross around their necks and appear to be enjoying their football.
City’s games are now being won with energy still in the tank, while Arsenal’s games are emotionally-exhausting, nail-biting slogs that are going the distance.
Mikel Arteta’s side also likely have three Champions League showdowns to factor in for a run-in which feels increasingly anxious.
Prediction: Manchester City
Dan Kilpatrick
I suspect there are more twists to come but as it stands City appear better-equipped to deal with the emotional swings than Arsenal.
Guardiola and many of his players have the know-how and the momentum (they have beaten Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea by a combined score of 9-0 in their last three matches), while Arsenal look increasingly emotional, fearful and exhausted. Perhaps this is the inevitable consequence of so often playing matches on the margins.
Next weekend feels pivotal — there is a widespread assumption that City are bankers because they are home and won the Carabao Cup final, although Arsenal are unbeaten in five league games against Guardiola’s side — and if the hosts win, it will be an almighty job for Mikel Arteta to lift his players for the run-in.
Prediction: Manchester City
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