It’s the meeting that all of England is waiting for, but for Arsenal, it looks more and more like a leap into the unknown without a parachute. Sunday, on the pitch at the Etihad Stadium, the Gunners are playing much more than a simple top-of-the-table match: they are playing for their destiny. While they seemed to be heading serenely towards a coronation which had eluded them since the Invincibles of 2004, the machine suddenly seized up. The surprise defeat against Bournemouth (1-2) last week restarted everything, allowing Manchester City to come back six points, with a match in hand.
Mathematically, the calculation is terrifying for Londoners. If City prevail on Sunday and win their postponed Premier League match against Crystal Palace, the two rivals would find themselves tied on points, with a goal difference already extremely tight. The championship has never seemed so close to changing this season.
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But Mikel Arteta’s real headache isn’t just in the numbers, it’s in the infirmary. Criticized for a game that has become laborious, even downright boring, as evidenced by the sad 0-0 at home conceded against Sporting in the Champions League, Arsenal is paying the high price of an insane schedule. Already eliminated from the FA Cup (2-1) by Southampton and beaten by these same Cityzens in the League Cup final (0-2), the Gunners no longer have any room for maneuver.
The list of absentees looks like a war zone health report. Mikel Merino is out, as is Jurrien Timber, still injured in the malleolus. Bukayo Saka, the detonator of the attack, remains on the side because of his Achilles tendon. Mikel Arteta tries to remain optimistic: “His recovery is progressing. I hope it will be a matter of days and not weeks. » But with the 2026 World Cup in his sights, the English star will not take any unnecessary risks.
To top it off, captain Martin Ødegaard is more than uncertain, his knee still not allowing him to hold his rank. While Riccardo Calafiori could make a forced return, he will be far from 100%. On Sunday, it’s an Arsenal in “survival” mode which will try to protect its throne against the Mancunian ogre.
To summarize
Arsenal are approaching their decisive clash against Manchester City in a position of extreme fragility. With only six points ahead and a cascade of injuries affecting his executives (Saka, Ødegaard, Merino), the London leader could lose control of the Premier League in the event of a defeat at the Etihad this Sunday.
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