Probably the biggest losers from Sunday’s game were a team that didn’t even play in it. Chants of, “Are you watching, Arsenal?” boomed from the Stamford Bridge away end as the match went on, only growing louder with each City goal.
City have closed the gap on the Gunners to six points, and boast a game in hand. More importantly than anything else, though, they host the Gunners at the Etihad Stadium next weekend in a fixture that has typically decided the fate of the title in recent seasons.
Guardiola’s men obliterated Mikel Arteta’s side in 2022-23 before Arsenal held out for a 0-0 draw the following season, which drew criticism from Rodri over their mentality of not wanting to actually win the game and the league. A frantic 2-2 draw at the start of 2024-25 was, in hindsight, a sign that two imperfect teams were always going to fall short of Liverpool.
We now have six days of build-up to one of the most anticipated Premier League matches in years. Arsenal have the distraction, or blessing, of a Champions League quarter-final second leg with Sporting beforehand, while City have a free week to prepare. How are your nerves, Gunners fans?
