Premier League: Does Arsenal’s Lead Disappear on Wednesday?

Arsenal vs Manchester City

They have led the Premier League since the start of the campaign and at one point looked like running away with the 2023 title, but when Arsenal drew their match with Brentford on Saturday there might just have been some jitters at the Emirates.

On Sunday Manchester City beat Aston Villa 3-1, and Arsenal’s lead at the top shrunk to three points.  And now, on Wednesday Manchester City are the visitors to North London in a game which could turn the season on its head. The Sorcerer meets his Apprentice again and Pep Guardiola knows that all he taught Mikel Arteta in his time at the Etihad is coming to fruition at the Emirates. And now, Premier League: Arsenal vs Manchester City is the biggest match of the season so far… and it’s hard one to call.

Do the Gunners have the bottle to see off their biggest rivals or is this where it starts to go wrong?

The two teams met just three weeks ago in the FA Cup when a goal by Nathan Ake gave the Sky Blues a win  and now Arsenal have gone three games, in all competitions, without winning.

All is not sweetness and light at Manchester City at the moment but if they do take top spot then they will be difficult to dislodge.

Talking Points

Gunners need to hold their nerve

The pre-match Arsenal vs Manchester City betting odds give the hosts a good chance of holding the Sky Blues at arms length, but the Gunners are having their first difficult time this season. Arteta’s team has played brilliant, fearless football but three games without a win, scoring a single goal, could sap the confidence of any team.

Martin Odegaard has been a superb captain this season and he has the talent around him to see the job through, with some of the best young players in world football. But with young stars Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka and Eddie Nketiah all performing well, they will have to take the strain in the run in and will need help from the team’s more experienced stars.  

Oleksandr Zinchenko is back from injury and the ex-Manchester City player has a big role to play in the coming weeks and the form of Granti Xhaka, which has been top class for much of the campaign, needs to continue. Brentford are a tough team to beat and the result was a disappointment, though new signing Leandro Trossard will take confidence from his goal.

There is no lack of talent in this team but they don’t have experience in a title run in; and that makes Wednesday’s game about as high pressure as it comes.   

City sweating on Haaland

Manchester City’s off field problems have dominated the news in the UK sports press but the Sky Blues delivered a professional performance to beat Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon to move back into second place. But after a near perfect first half in which they pulled the Villa defence apart and scored three goals, the half time news was not so good.  

Erling Braut Haaland didn’t add to his 25 league goals for the season and was hooked at the break, prompting concerns that he may have picked up a knock which will make him doubtful for the Arsenal game. He suffered a nasty blow to his thigh and was undergoing tests at the club on Monday so Guardiola is unlikely to update until shortly before kick-off on Wednesday.

Julian Alvarez, who has really started to impress in recent weeks came on for the second half and he will be ready to stand in if needed at the Emirates. But one player who surely will start is playmaker Kevin De Bruyne. After returning to the side he dominated play in the first half and, alongside the fit again Phil Foden, he is a cut above the rest.  

History

Arsenal are three times Premier League winners, the last time in 2004, while the Sky Blues have won the competition six times, and in four of the last five campaigns. And the latest Premier League betting odds make Guardiola’s team the favourites by the tightest if margins.   

The Gunners have had the better of the head to head Arsenal vs Manchester City results but their lead of 27 victories to 23, in all competitions, has been whittled away with the Sky Blues winning each of the last six meetings, scoring 14 goals and conceding just two.

Betting Tip

The visitors are favourites to win this blockbuster clash while the Gunners are at SBOTOP odds of 2.88 with the draw marginally longer at 3.11.

Do I think the gap will be closed and City will be top of the league by 10pm on Wednesday?

Yes I do!   

 

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