This has been a dramatic weekend in the Premier League title race.<\/p>\n
On Saturday, Arsenal were stunned at home by Bournemouth, losing 2-1 in front of a nervy crowd at the Emirates.<\/p>\n
A day later Manchester City travelled to Stamford Bridge and swept Chelsea aside, winning 3-0 and narrowing Arsenal\u2019s lead at the top of the table to six points.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
So, who is going to be lifting it? Arsenal or Manchester City? Nine of our writers have their say\u2026<\/p>\n
Adam Crafton<\/strong><\/h3>\nI\u2019ve 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m 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\u2019ll need to.<\/p>\n
So I\u2019m pivoting to City\u2026.<\/p>\n
Prediction: Manchester City<\/em><\/p>\nSeb Stafford-Bloor<\/strong><\/h3>\nArsenal, just.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Take the emphasis off their attacking players and they remain an extremely compact and disciplined opponent.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Prediction: Arsenal<\/em><\/p>\nOliver Kay<\/strong><\/h3>\nSince around September, I\u2019ve regarded Arsenal as favourites \u2026 but I\u2019ve become less and less convinced \u2014 not because I doubt their \u201cbottle\u201d or resilience but because the way they are playing looks so constrained.<\/span><\/p>\nUntil Saturday lunchtime, I still thought they would get over the line. But that was a terrible result against Bournemouth. I\u2019ve gone from \u2014 and yes I\u2019m plucking these percentages from the air \u2014 75 per cent Arsenal at one stage to 60 per cent Arsenal a week ago to perhaps \u2026 55 per cent Manchester City now.<\/span><\/p>\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/uploads\/wp\/2026\/04\/11092616\/GettyImages-2270295119-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\n\n Gabriel reacts after Arsenal\u2019s defeat by Bournemouth (Catherine Ivill \u2013 AMA\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nNext 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\u2019m 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. <\/span><\/p>\nArsenal have to change the momentum and the narrative \u2014 fast.<\/span><\/p>\nPrediction: Manchester City<\/em><\/p>\nDaniel Taylor <\/strong><\/h3>\nPep\u2019s final hurrah? It\u2019s definitely on.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s stadium during Saturday\u2019s defeat by Bournemouth.<\/p>\n
So much rests on Sunday\u2019s top-of-the-table showdown in Manchester and, if Arsenal lose again, I can see them crumbling and finishing with nothing.<\/p>\n
What a way for Guardiola, potentially, to bow out after 10 years of changing the landscape in English football.<\/p>\n
Prediction: Manchester City<\/em><\/p>\nStuart James<\/strong><\/h3>\nOnly last week I said that Arsenal would win it, partly because I thought Manchester City would have to be perfect to catch Arsenal \u2014 perfect as in win all eight remaining matches.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The momentum has shifted significantly in the space of 24 hours. Clearly, the game at the Etihad is huge. But I\u2019m swaying towards City now. How fickle of me.<\/p>\n
Prediction: Manchester City<\/em><\/p>\nAnd Sheldon <\/strong><\/h3>\nBefore the beginning of the season, I predicted Arsenal would win the Premier League by 10 points or more.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s.<\/p>\n
Where the title ends up come May remains in Arsenal\u2019s hands, and leaving the Etihad next weekend with a point \u2014 or three \u2014 would stifle City\u2019s surge.<\/p>\n
I may have to row back from thinking Arteta\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Prediction: Arsenal<\/em><\/p>\nSimon Johnson<\/strong><\/h3>\nHaving 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/uploads\/wp\/2026\/04\/12135801\/GettyImages-2271005297-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\n\n Manchester City\u2019s Nico O\u2019Reilly wheels away to celebrate after scoring against Chelsea\u00a0 (Ryan Pierse\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nArsenal 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.<\/p>\n
Prediction: Manchester City<\/em><\/p>\nColin Millar<\/strong><\/h3>\nTruly elite sides peak in the latter months of the season, but Arsenal are regressing as Manchester City are, belatedly, hitting their stride.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
City\u2019s games are now being won with energy still in the tank, while Arsenal\u2019s games are emotionally-exhausting, nail-biting slogs that are going the distance.<\/p>\n
Mikel Arteta\u2019s side also likely have three Champions League showdowns to factor in for a run-in which feels increasingly anxious.<\/p>\n
Prediction: Manchester City<\/em><\/p>\nDan Kilpatrick<\/b><\/h3>\n
I suspect there are more twists to come but as it stands City appear better-equipped to deal with the emotional swings than Arsenal.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Next weekend feels pivotal \u2014 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\u2019s side \u2014 and if the hosts win, it will be an almighty job for Mikel Arteta to lift his players for the run-in.<\/p>\n
Prediction: Manchester City<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"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\u2019s lead at the top of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2120,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2119","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arsenal"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/updatelive.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2119","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/updatelive.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/updatelive.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/updatelive.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/updatelive.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2119"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/updatelive.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2119\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/updatelive.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2120"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/updatelive.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2119"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/updatelive.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2119"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/updatelive.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2119"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Seb Stafford-Bloor<\/strong><\/h3>\nArsenal, just.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Take the emphasis off their attacking players and they remain an extremely compact and disciplined opponent.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Prediction: Arsenal<\/em><\/p>\nOliver Kay<\/strong><\/h3>\nSince around September, I\u2019ve regarded Arsenal as favourites \u2026 but I\u2019ve become less and less convinced \u2014 not because I doubt their \u201cbottle\u201d or resilience but because the way they are playing looks so constrained.<\/span><\/p>\nUntil Saturday lunchtime, I still thought they would get over the line. But that was a terrible result against Bournemouth. I\u2019ve gone from \u2014 and yes I\u2019m plucking these percentages from the air \u2014 75 per cent Arsenal at one stage to 60 per cent Arsenal a week ago to perhaps \u2026 55 per cent Manchester City now.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n Gabriel reacts after Arsenal\u2019s defeat by Bournemouth (Catherine Ivill \u2013 AMA\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nNext 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\u2019m 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. <\/span><\/p>\nArsenal have to change the momentum and the narrative \u2014 fast.<\/span><\/p>\nPrediction: Manchester City<\/em><\/p>\nDaniel Taylor <\/strong><\/h3>\nPep\u2019s final hurrah? It\u2019s definitely on.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s stadium during Saturday\u2019s defeat by Bournemouth.<\/p>\n
So much rests on Sunday\u2019s top-of-the-table showdown in Manchester and, if Arsenal lose again, I can see them crumbling and finishing with nothing.<\/p>\n
What a way for Guardiola, potentially, to bow out after 10 years of changing the landscape in English football.<\/p>\n
Prediction: Manchester City<\/em><\/p>\nStuart James<\/strong><\/h3>\nOnly last week I said that Arsenal would win it, partly because I thought Manchester City would have to be perfect to catch Arsenal \u2014 perfect as in win all eight remaining matches.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The momentum has shifted significantly in the space of 24 hours. Clearly, the game at the Etihad is huge. But I\u2019m swaying towards City now. How fickle of me.<\/p>\n
Prediction: Manchester City<\/em><\/p>\nAnd Sheldon <\/strong><\/h3>\nBefore the beginning of the season, I predicted Arsenal would win the Premier League by 10 points or more.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s.<\/p>\n
Where the title ends up come May remains in Arsenal\u2019s hands, and leaving the Etihad next weekend with a point \u2014 or three \u2014 would stifle City\u2019s surge.<\/p>\n
I may have to row back from thinking Arteta\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Prediction: Arsenal<\/em><\/p>\nSimon Johnson<\/strong><\/h3>\nHaving 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n\n\n Manchester City\u2019s Nico O\u2019Reilly wheels away to celebrate after scoring against Chelsea\u00a0 (Ryan Pierse\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nArsenal 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.<\/p>\n
Prediction: Manchester City<\/em><\/p>\nColin Millar<\/strong><\/h3>\nTruly elite sides peak in the latter months of the season, but Arsenal are regressing as Manchester City are, belatedly, hitting their stride.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
City\u2019s games are now being won with energy still in the tank, while Arsenal\u2019s games are emotionally-exhausting, nail-biting slogs that are going the distance.<\/p>\n
Mikel Arteta\u2019s side also likely have three Champions League showdowns to factor in for a run-in which feels increasingly anxious.<\/p>\n
Prediction: Manchester City<\/em><\/p>\nDan Kilpatrick<\/b><\/h3>\n
I suspect there are more twists to come but as it stands City appear better-equipped to deal with the emotional swings than Arsenal.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Next weekend feels pivotal \u2014 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\u2019s side \u2014 and if the hosts win, it will be an almighty job for Mikel Arteta to lift his players for the run-in.<\/p>\n
Prediction: Manchester City<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"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\u2019s lead at the top of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2120,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2119","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arsenal"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/updatelive.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2119","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/updatelive.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/updatelive.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/updatelive.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/updatelive.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2119"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/updatelive.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2119\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/updatelive.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2120"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/updatelive.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2119"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/updatelive.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2119"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/updatelive.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2119"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Oliver Kay<\/strong><\/h3>\nSince around September, I\u2019ve regarded Arsenal as favourites \u2026 but I\u2019ve become less and less convinced \u2014 not because I doubt their \u201cbottle\u201d or resilience but because the way they are playing looks so constrained.<\/span><\/p>\nUntil Saturday lunchtime, I still thought they would get over the line. But that was a terrible result against Bournemouth. I\u2019ve gone from \u2014 and yes I\u2019m plucking these percentages from the air \u2014 75 per cent Arsenal at one stage to 60 per cent Arsenal a week ago to perhaps \u2026 55 per cent Manchester City now.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n Gabriel reacts after Arsenal\u2019s defeat by Bournemouth (Catherine Ivill \u2013 AMA\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nNext 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\u2019m 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. <\/span><\/p>\nArsenal have to change the momentum and the narrative \u2014 fast.<\/span><\/p>\nPrediction: Manchester City<\/em><\/p>\nDaniel Taylor <\/strong><\/h3>\nPep\u2019s final hurrah? It\u2019s definitely on.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s stadium during Saturday\u2019s defeat by Bournemouth.<\/p>\n
So much rests on Sunday\u2019s top-of-the-table showdown in Manchester and, if Arsenal lose again, I can see them crumbling and finishing with nothing.<\/p>\n
What a way for Guardiola, potentially, to bow out after 10 years of changing the landscape in English football.<\/p>\n
Prediction: Manchester City<\/em><\/p>\nStuart James<\/strong><\/h3>\nOnly last week I said that Arsenal would win it, partly because I thought Manchester City would have to be perfect to catch Arsenal \u2014 perfect as in win all eight remaining matches.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The momentum has shifted significantly in the space of 24 hours. Clearly, the game at the Etihad is huge. But I\u2019m swaying towards City now. How fickle of me.<\/p>\n
Prediction: Manchester City<\/em><\/p>\nAnd Sheldon <\/strong><\/h3>\nBefore the beginning of the season, I predicted Arsenal would win the Premier League by 10 points or more.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s.<\/p>\n
Where the title ends up come May remains in Arsenal\u2019s hands, and leaving the Etihad next weekend with a point \u2014 or three \u2014 would stifle City\u2019s surge.<\/p>\n
I may have to row back from thinking Arteta\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Prediction: Arsenal<\/em><\/p>\nSimon Johnson<\/strong><\/h3>\nHaving 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n\n\n Manchester City\u2019s Nico O\u2019Reilly wheels away to celebrate after scoring against Chelsea\u00a0 (Ryan Pierse\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nArsenal 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.<\/p>\n
Prediction: Manchester City<\/em><\/p>\nColin Millar<\/strong><\/h3>\nTruly elite sides peak in the latter months of the season, but Arsenal are regressing as Manchester City are, belatedly, hitting their stride.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
City\u2019s games are now being won with energy still in the tank, while Arsenal\u2019s games are emotionally-exhausting, nail-biting slogs that are going the distance.<\/p>\n
Mikel Arteta\u2019s side also likely have three Champions League showdowns to factor in for a run-in which feels increasingly anxious.<\/p>\n
Prediction: Manchester City<\/em><\/p>\nDan Kilpatrick<\/b><\/h3>\n
I suspect there are more twists to come but as it stands City appear better-equipped to deal with the emotional swings than Arsenal.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Next weekend feels pivotal \u2014 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\u2019s side \u2014 and if the hosts win, it will be an almighty job for Mikel Arteta to lift his players for the run-in.<\/p>\n
Prediction: Manchester City<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"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\u2019s lead at the top of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2120,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2119","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arsenal"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/updatelive.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2119","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/updatelive.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/updatelive.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/updatelive.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/updatelive.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2119"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/updatelive.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2119\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/updatelive.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2120"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/updatelive.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2119"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/updatelive.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2119"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/updatelive.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2119"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Until Saturday lunchtime, I still thought they would get over the line. But that was a terrible result against Bournemouth. I\u2019ve gone from \u2014 and yes I\u2019m plucking these percentages from the air \u2014 75 per cent Arsenal at one stage to 60 per cent Arsenal a week ago to perhaps \u2026 55 per cent Manchester City now.<\/span><\/p>\n \n Gabriel reacts after Arsenal\u2019s defeat by Bournemouth (Catherine Ivill \u2013 AMA\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 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\u2019m 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. <\/span><\/p>\n Arsenal have to change the momentum and the narrative \u2014 fast.<\/span><\/p>\n Prediction: Manchester City<\/em><\/p>\n Pep\u2019s final hurrah? It\u2019s definitely on.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s stadium during Saturday\u2019s defeat by Bournemouth.<\/p>\n So much rests on Sunday\u2019s top-of-the-table showdown in Manchester and, if Arsenal lose again, I can see them crumbling and finishing with nothing.<\/p>\n What a way for Guardiola, potentially, to bow out after 10 years of changing the landscape in English football.<\/p>\n Prediction: Manchester City<\/em><\/p>\n Only last week I said that Arsenal would win it, partly because I thought Manchester City would have to be perfect to catch Arsenal \u2014 perfect as in win all eight remaining matches.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The momentum has shifted significantly in the space of 24 hours. Clearly, the game at the Etihad is huge. But I\u2019m swaying towards City now. How fickle of me.<\/p>\n Prediction: Manchester City<\/em><\/p>\n Before the beginning of the season, I predicted Arsenal would win the Premier League by 10 points or more.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s.<\/p>\n Where the title ends up come May remains in Arsenal\u2019s hands, and leaving the Etihad next weekend with a point \u2014 or three \u2014 would stifle City\u2019s surge.<\/p>\n I may have to row back from thinking Arteta\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Prediction: Arsenal<\/em><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \n Manchester City\u2019s Nico O\u2019Reilly wheels away to celebrate after scoring against Chelsea\u00a0 (Ryan Pierse\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 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.<\/p>\n Prediction: Manchester City<\/em><\/p>\n Truly elite sides peak in the latter months of the season, but Arsenal are regressing as Manchester City are, belatedly, hitting their stride.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n City\u2019s games are now being won with energy still in the tank, while Arsenal\u2019s games are emotionally-exhausting, nail-biting slogs that are going the distance.<\/p>\n Mikel Arteta\u2019s side also likely have three Champions League showdowns to factor in for a run-in which feels increasingly anxious.<\/p>\n Prediction: Manchester City<\/em><\/p>\n I suspect there are more twists to come but as it stands City appear better-equipped to deal with the emotional swings than Arsenal.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Next weekend feels pivotal \u2014 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\u2019s side \u2014 and if the hosts win, it will be an almighty job for Mikel Arteta to lift his players for the run-in.<\/p>\n Prediction: Manchester City<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 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\u2019s lead at the top of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2120,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2119","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arsenal"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/updatelive.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2119","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/updatelive.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/updatelive.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/updatelive.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/updatelive.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2119"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/updatelive.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2119\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/updatelive.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2120"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/updatelive.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2119"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/updatelive.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2119"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/updatelive.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2119"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}<\/p>\nDaniel Taylor <\/strong><\/h3>\n
Stuart James<\/strong><\/h3>\n
And Sheldon <\/strong><\/h3>\n
Simon Johnson<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/p>\nColin Millar<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Dan Kilpatrick<\/b><\/h3>\n