Time will stop in England this Sunday (5:30 p.m.), time for the clash between Manchester City and Arsenal. The Gunners would be heading towards a long-awaited English championship title if they win.
It’s a “seismic shock” pour Sky Sports. “A real and extremely rare duel for the title” according to the Times. “The title race reaches its climax”salivate Daily Mail. Nine-time English champion Manchester United legend Gary Neville called him a “titanic shock” Who ‘will determine the fate of the Premier League season’. The match between Manchester City and Arsenal this Sunday (5:30 p.m.) is about to transcend the football world.
The Gunners, who became leaders in mid-October, are six points ahead of the Citizens, who have a game in hand. If the latter win on Sunday and win this late match, they would return to the level of points. And would surely go ahead on goal difference. A Premier League final? “Clearly”replied Pep Guardiola, even if there will still be six matches to play for him and his troops. “If we lose, it’s over.”however, conceded the Skyblues coach.
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Arsenal no longer responds
The meeting is all the more anticipated as Arsenal are at their worst. There has been nothing conquering about his face for several weeks, and his moribund quality of play, dependent on set pieces, ended up being reflected in the results: defeat in the League Cup final against City (2-0 on March 22), elimination in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup by Southampton (2-1 on April 4) and a setback in the league against Bournemouth (1-2 on April 11). “It’s a slap in the face.”articulated Mikel Arteta in the hour that followed, apologizing to the supporters.
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The latter have been waiting for a championship title since 2004, the famous season of the “Invincibles” (zero defeats in 38 matches), era of Arsène Wenger, Thierry Henry and Robert Pirès. Under Arteta, in office since 2019, Arsenal regained its place at the top table of the Premier League, but only won two Community Shields (2020, 2023) and an FA Cup (2020). Already in 2023, City had only gone ahead with four days remaining, after having corrected the Gunners at the Etihad Stadium (4-1) where the duel will take place this Sunday.
I have done so much to be in this position, because I know where this club comes from. I only see positives, opportunities. I have no fear.
Mikel Arteta, Arsenal manager
‘Manchester City smells of blood’warned the BBC. Would Arsenal approach the end of the season with fear in their stomach? “No fear, only fire, replied Arteta at the start of the week. This is what I want to see in the players, in everyone, in myself too. And the Spanish coach continues with enthusiasm: “I have done so much to be in this position, because I know where this club comes from. I only see positives, opportunities. I have no fear.”
The sad face displayed by his team, Tuesday in the quarter-final second leg of the Champions League against Sporting Portugal (0-0, after a 0-1 victory in Lisbon), rather vindicated the harsh criticism of supporters and the media. “It doesn’t matter what people think. All that matters is what this group thinks, what the coach thinks.”rebuked vice-captain Declan Rice.
Toby Melville / REUTERS
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“There are times with the ball where we need to do better, have more control, and complete our actions more often”recognized Arteta, while recalling that there is “value in what the players did”. For him, this qualification, the second in a row in the C1 semi-finals, unprecedented in the history of the club, is a «boost massif» for this Sunday. “This is the ultimate test”Rice said. “It’s for these moments that we play football”smiled the London midfielder, inviting his teammates to “have confidence with the ball, don’t feel under pressure”.
They will have to contain the Norwegian striker Erling Haaland, top scorer in the Premier League (22 goals), who intends to approach the match “like a finale”. Bukayo Saka, the Gunners’ star striker but disappointing this season, has withdrawn with a nagging Achilles tendon injury. The return of Martin Ødegaard, captain and playing master of his team, is hoped for. It would be better, because after the two cup failures, and the feeling of being the least confident team in the last four of the Champions League, Arsenal finds itself faced with the risk of losing everything in the final sprint.
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