‘Title decider’ as City face Arsenal
HIGH OCTANE Despite Leicester’s performance, most expect either Gunnners or Man City to win the English league
Both managers dismiss it, but Manchester City’s trip to Arsenal on Monday is being billed as a clash between the two teams most capable of lifting the Premier League title.
Leicester City will top the table on Christmas Day, but amid doubts over their staying power and with other contenders floundering, Arsenal and City remain the favourites.
Leicester have a five-point lead over Arsenal, with City a point further back in third place, and the London club’s manager Arsene Wenger knows how important is it for his side to take points from their rivals. “We have really established a good run so for us it’s important to continue that,” he said.
“It is a massive game. When we play at home you want to win because we are ambitious and we feel we have the chance to come out in a strong position after Christmas. It will be a very tight game because if you look at the numbers since the start of the season, offensively and defensively the numbers are very close.” City made a storming start to the season, but have hit a patch of inconsistent form, winning only three of their last seven league games.
However, Manager Manuel Pellegrini rejected the notion that another setback against Arsenal would be fatal. “It’s not a decisive game as after this we have to play 21 games more,” said the Chilean. “It’s important to try to be the best team from the first round, to play against a team with one point more. It’s a game of six points, to win three and to take three off a rival. We must consider Leicester — they are still top of the table. United are just a few points behind us.”
Arsenal were routed 6-3 by City at the Etihad Stadium two years ago, but they came out on top last season, sweeping to a 3-0 Community Shield victory and producing a smash-and-grab 2-0 win in Manchester in January.