Title-chasing Arsenal faces double threat from Manchester
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND >> If Arsenal is to win its first Premier League title in 19 years, it will have to hold off a growing double threat from Manchester.
The battle to be crowned English champions looks set to come down to just three clubs after wins for Manchester City and Manchester United on Sunday tightened the gap at the top of the table.
Defending champion City beat Aston Villa 3-1 and has the chance to move above leader Arsenal on goal difference with a win when the sides meet on Wednesday.
United is now five points off the top after beating Leeds 2-0 at Elland Road.
But the immediate threat to Arsenal, which has led the standings since August, is a City team that has the chance to wipe out an eightpoint deficit that existed less than a month ago, even if it has played a game more.
“We will see after all the games when the Premier League is finished. But we are going to London to try to get a win,” City manager Pep Guardiola said. “When one team has made 50 points in the first leg (half of the season) it is because they are very good. We closed the gap today because the performance from the team was really, really good.”
The wins for City and United will increase the sense of injustice felt by Arsenal at Ivan Toney’s equalizer against Mikel Arteta’s team in a 1-1 draw with Brentford on Saturday.
Referees chief Howard Webb contacted the club to explain “significant” and “human” error after VAR failed to rule Toney’s goal out for offside, but that is likely to be of little comfort to a team whose title challenge is beginning to show signs of faltering.
Rodri, Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez all scored in the first half as City issued a defiant response on the field following accusations this week of breaching financial regulations.
While City is primed to challenge, United has also emerged as a serious contender — even if manager Erik ten Hag may yet rue the dropped points in a 2-2 draw with Leeds midweek.
His team at least got the better of its rival from Yorkshire when meeting for a second time in the space of four days.
Even then United left it late, with Marcus Rashford opening the scoring in the 80th minute and substitute Alejandro Garnacho adding a second goal in the 85th.
It was Rashford’s 21st goal of the season and his 13th in his last 15 games. And with Cristiano Ronaldo departed and Anthony Martial enduring ongoing fitness issues, the England forward is vital to United’s ambitions.
Ten Hag said Rashford was now “definitely one of” the best in Europe.
“He has the skills. I was convinced from the first moment. I was really excited to work with him. I thought I could get more out of him,” he said. “But he has so many skills, such high potential and I think there can be even more. When he works well, he will even score more goals because he can score with his left, right and his head.”