It may be too early to predict, but will Gabriel Martineli’s 86th-minute winner against Manchester City, prove to be vital in Arsenal’s quest for a first Premier Title after 20 years?
Last season, the Gunners lost both games against the Champions, and this was one of the big reasons why Guardiola’s side went on to win a third consecutive League title.
Even though City was without the likes of Rodri and De Bruyne, it was still important for Mikel Arteta’s men to send a message not just to their main rivals, but also to show everyone that they may be treble winners, but if you play the right way, and be solid at the back, you’ve always got a chance, which Arsenal grabbed with both hands.
Arteta: Sky Sports“I’m so proud. It was the moment with the right people and the right players. We knew we would have to suffer and we did that. You need a big performance and the crowd too. It feels like a big win,”
And there were occasions in the game when the team did suffer, especially when David Raya almost gifted Julien Alvarez, the opening goal.
But, what was so good about the Gunners yesterday was the fact that they accepted that they weren’t going to dominate possession of the ball as they like normally do. They made sure that they were compact in defence and limited City to just four shots on goal.
And for a team as good as City, that’s a rarity.
Treble Hangover for City?
Embed from Getty Images2022/23 was an unbelievable season for Guardiola’s side, who became the second team after Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United to win the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League in one season.
Achieving this feat requires a lot of effort, not just physically but mentally as well, and you just feel that sort of mental fatigue is starting to affect Guardiola and his players.
“It is football, it happens. We do not have to win the Premier League. No team ever has won four Premier League in a row. “We are behind but it is October. Last season it happened but the season is long.
Guardiola: Man City
However, that does not mean that they cannot win the Title from this position, they still have the capability of winning it from this position, and they still can do it.
But what Arsenal and Wolves have shown is that no team is unbeatable, and if you work hard as a team, and have a solid defence, you’ve always got a chance of beating teams like these.
What we don’t want, is the Premier League to become like the Bundesliga, where one team (Bayern Munich) wins it every season.
Chelsea and Sheffield United are Arsenal’s next two fixtures after the international break, and it’s important that Arteta’s side continue the momentum post the break.
As for City, a visit from Brighton&Hove Albion and the Manchester derby will be a stern test for Guadiola’s side
Do they have enough in them for a fourth consecutive League Title, or will Arsenal end their 19-year wait?
Find out on World in Sport.
