The streets of London are filled with a sense of unease as Arsenal face the possibility of losing their top spot in the Premier League. Despite leading the league for 201 consecutive days, Arsenal may find themselves surpassed by Manchester City, who are chasing their seventh day at the top of the table this season. This scenario is eerily reminiscent of the 2022/23 season, where Mikel Arteta's side led the table for 247 days, only to be overtaken by City in the final weeks of the season. History seems to be repeating itself, leaving Arsenal with a familiar yet strange feeling.
However, unlike three seasons ago, where Arsenal suffered a 4-1 loss, this performance was positive, defying pre-match expectations. The Gunners did not play poorly at the Etihad Stadium, instead, they employed a successful high press, led by returning captain Martin Odegaard, which allowed them to win the ball back in the final third five times in the opening 25 minutes. Odegaard's decision-making in and out of possession was impressive, considering he had only made three starts in three months.
The press also led to Kai Havertz's equalizer, following Gianluigi Donnarumma's fumble. Arsenal's attacking partnerships looked more dangerous, with improved displays from Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi behind Havertz. The team created 1.53 worth of expected goals, the most City had conceded in a Premier League match in ten days. For a period in the second half, Arsenal put the game on a knife's edge, with Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli missing huge one-on-one chances, while Eberechi Eze struck the post, putting City on the ropes.
Four minutes later, Erling Haaland scored, landing a sucker punch. Had Havertz converted his golden stoppage-time chance, this would have been considered a great result. At full-time, Declan Rice was heard saying 'it's not done' to himself, and while the title race feels ominous, it isn't over.
Arteta expressed his team's full belief in their ability to win the title, stating that it's still in their hands and within reach. Guardiola also recognizes that momentum can shift in an instant. So, how do Arsenal get to the title from here? Part of the strange feeling Arsenal have is that while City have the title race in their hands, so do the Gunners.
If both sides win all their remaining games, the Premier League title will come down to who scores the most goals. With two out of the three top scorers in the Golden Boot race, City looks well-placed to do that, but Arsenal needs to find their own version of Haaland and Antoine Semenyo. There were signs that Arsenal can unlock a bit of attacking freedom at the Etihad Stadium, with Odegaard reminding everyone why he is Arsenal's captain and key inspiration. This was just the Norwegian's fourth start alongside Eze for Arsenal, and the first time either player had made it beyond half-time in those matches.
And Arsenal looked better. Odegaard felt okay in the game, a bit tired in the end, but good to be back, and hopefully, he can be there until the end. It goes to show that if you have your best players available at the most important time of the season, the chances of success rise.
Should Bukayo Saka return from injury soon, then Arsenal could start a trio of him, Odegaard, and Havertz in the Premier League for the first time since December 2024, when the Gunners beat Crystal Palace 5-1 away from home. Arsenal have another gear to get to.
Arsenal will also do well remembering that this City team is not perfect and has the more difficult fixtures going forward. The microscope will be on Guardiola's side when they visit Everton and Bournemouth, in the same weekend Arsenal play out-of-form Fulham and a relegated Burnley.
The possibility of Arsenal picking up more points than City cannot be ruled out. So, back to that strange feeling Arsenal will have - disappointment, yes, but it could easily be turned into optimism going forward. Play like that between now and the end of the season, and two sets of silverware are more than possible.
As Arteta said after the game about his players, 'They are now more convinced. They were talking about it in the dressing room. It's a new league now.
Everything is still to play for. We know how much we want it, and we are not going to stop.' And both title rivals have strengths, both teams have weaknesses. Come Wednesday night, both teams could sit on 70 points with the same number of games left. City's win and Arsenal's defeat will look like a standout moment, but Guardiola's side have only earned the right to make the title race neck-and-neck.
The race, or the shoot-out as many are putting it, is on.