When Mikel Arteta told Arsenal fans to relax and “jump on the fun boat” towards the Premier League title, he probably didn’t expect Pep Guardiola and Unai Emery to help steer it for him.
A week ago, there was real tension around Arsenal after their home loss to Manchester United. Fans, players and even the manager looked nervous. But seven days later, everything has changed. Arsenal now sit six points clear at the top after both Manchester City and Aston Villa failed to take advantage.
This turned out to be the perfect weekend for the Gunners and has strengthened the feeling that this is a “now or never”season for Arteta’s team. If Arsenal don’t win the Premier League from here, the blame will be entirely their own.
Arsenal did their job by smashing Leeds 4-0, then watched their rivals fall apart. Villa lost again at home, this time to Brentford, while Manchester City threw away a 2-0 lead to draw with Tottenham. Even when Arsenal left the door open, City and Villa tripped over themselves instead of walking through it.
City’s collapse was especially damaging. They were in full control at half-time but showed carelessness and a soft edge, allowing Spurs back into the game. Guardiola admitted it was a setback, though he insisted the title race isn’t over with 14 games still to play.
Still, this City side looks flawed and vulnerable, and on this evidence, it’s hard to see them overhauling Arsenal. Villa, meanwhile, appear to be falling away after back-to-back home defeats, just as Emery has long suggested they were outsiders in the title race.
With rivals stumbling and Arsenal in control, weekends like this make the path to a first Premier League title since 2004 look smoother than ever.
