Man City 2-1 Arsenal: How did Mikel Arteta’s Gunners regain momentum and initiative in the Premier League title race after a disappointing defeat? | soccer news

“Panic on the streets of London,” read a Manchester City banner written in full-length. With her hair tied up, Erling Haaland was singing a Flo Rida song. “Oh, sometimes it feels good.” We’ve all heard that song before.

Despite leading the Premier League for 201 consecutive days, Arsenal could lose their summit spot on Wednesday night to a City side who are on their seventh day at the top of the table this season.

It was the same story three seasons ago when Mikel Arteta’s side led the 2022/23 campaign for 247 days before losing to City in the final week of the season. Haaland, who had been a fixture for so long that campaign, let his hair down and guided City to a vital win over Arsenal in April. The title race isn’t over, but something sinister happens there.

History is repeating itself as a familiar yet strange feeling falls upon Arsenal. There was disappointment at not getting the result, but unlike three seasons ago when Arsenal lost 4-1, this performance was positive. It went against both pre-match form and predictions.

Arsenal didn’t play bad at all at the Etihad Stadium. The amount of ‘good performances’ Arsenal have produced since Christmas can realistically be held in one hand. But when many expected a stubborn, defensive performance from the Gunners, there was a reasonable desire to take advantage of a successful high press to get Pep Guardiola’s side on board.

The press was led by returning captain Martin Odegaard, whose decision-making in and out of possession was as if he had never been away, let alone making his third start in three months.

As a result of their successful pressing, Arsenal got the ball back in the final third five times in the first 25 minutes, including when Kai Havertz equalized after Gianluigi Donnarumma’s poor footwork.

“The high-pressure press was really good,” Odegaard said. sky sports Full time. “It felt like we were trying to get the ball back and look dangerous.”

Havertz’s presence at the top of the pitch and improved play from Declan Rice and Martin Zuvimendi made Arsenal’s attacking partnerships look more dangerous.

After some recent dismal showings, there was cohesion at the top. The 1.53 expected goals they generated was the most accurate goals City have conceded in a Premier League match in 10 days.

And during the second half, Arsenal put the game on a knife’s edge. Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli missed huge one-on-one opportunities in the same move, before Ebereci Eze struck the post to put City in crisis.

Four minutes later, Haaland scored and the sucker punch came. Had Havertz converted a golden chance in the second half, it would have been considered a great result. As Arteta said: “We were close, but not close enough.”

Declan Rice, who works full time, has been heard telling himself: “It’s not over yet.” The title race feels ominous, but it’s not over. Arteta added: “We have full faith that we can do it. Today we showed the team we are there. It’s still in our hands and we can take it.”

Guardiola also recognizes this. “Momentum changes,” he said. sky sports. “People told me Arsenal’s momentum was bad. What I saw today wasn’t bad momentum. The momentum changed in an instant.”

So how can Arsenal win the title from here? One of the strange feelings Arsenal has is that while City have the title race in their hands, so have the Gunners.

If both teams win their remaining games, the Premier League title will go to whoever scores the most goals. With two of the three top scorers in the race for the Golden Boot, City look like the best place to do it. But Arsenal need to find their own Haaland and Antoine Semenho.

There were signs that Arsenal could enjoy some attacking freedom at the Etihad Stadium. As mentioned, Odegaard reminded everyone why he is Arsenal’s captain and main inspiration.

This was the Norwegian’s fourth start with Eze for Arsenal, and the first time both players went past half-time in that game. And Arsenal looked better.

“I felt OK for the game,” Odegaard said of his fitness levels. “I was a little tired at the end. It was nice to be back and I wish I could have stayed until the end.”

This shows that if you can retain your best players at the most important times of the season, your chances of success increase.

If Bukayo Saka returns from injury soon, Arsenal could start the trio of Odegaard and Havertz in the Premier League for the first time since December 2024 when the Gunners beat Crystal Palace 5-1 at home. Arsenal need another gear.

Arsenal will also do well to remember that this City team is not perfect and they have more difficult games ahead of them.

The microscope will be on Guardiola’s side when he visits Everton and Bournemouth, the same weekend Arsenal play in-form Fulham and relegated Burnley. The possibility of Arsenal gaining more points than City cannot be ruled out.

So let’s go back to the strange feeling Arsenal will have. I’m disappointed. But that could easily turn into optimism in the future. If you play like that between now and the end of the season, two sets of silverware are more than possible.

As Arteta said of his players after the game: “They have more confidence now. They were talking in the dressing room. It’s a new league now. Everything still remains to be seen. We know how much we want and we won’t stop.”

And both title rivals have their strengths and both teams have their weaknesses. Come Wednesday night, both teams could be tied at 70 points with the same number of games remaining.

City’s win and Arsenal’s loss may seem like standout moments, but Guardiola’s side have only earned the right to be in contention for the title. A race, or as many people think of it, a shootout is underway.