The Premier League title race reaches a pivotal stage on Wednesday, with Manchester City and Arsenal set to go head-to-head at the Etihad Stadium. Three successive draws have hit the Gunners’ hopes of winning the league, although their destiny still remains in their own hands.
Man City Favored
Arsenal lead Man City by five points having played two games more, but a victory in midweek would tip the scales firmly in their favor. Pep Guardiola’s side head into the game as overwhelming favorites with the bookmakers to win the title for the fifth time in six years. They are priced at odds of 1/4 with BetVictor to claim the top spot, while Arsenal can be backed at 10/3 after their 3-3 draw with Southampton on Friday. That result followed hot on the heels of draws with Liverpool and West Ham United, and left the Gunners looking nervously over their shoulders.
Man City will be licking their lips at the prospect of facing Arsenal, having won each of the last seven meetings between the two sides in all competitions. Arsenal have not won at the Etihad Stadium since January 2015 – a run which suggests they may well have an inferiority complex where Man City are concerned.
City have been in imperious form in recent weeks, picking up 25 points from the last 27 on offer. That run includes a victory over Arsenal in the reverse fixture. Kevin De Bruyne put City in front on that occasion, before Bukayo Saka restored parity just before half-time with a well-taken penalty. City stepped things up after the break, and were rewarded as goals by Jack Grealish and Erling Braut Haaland sealed an emphatic 3-1 win. There was a feeling after the game that the momentum in the title race had shifted towards City and the last few weeks have hammered that point home.
Arsenal Recent Results
Southampton caught Arsenal cold in their most recent outing, before battling back late in the second half to snatch a point. However, they can ill-afford to let City to get their noses in front, with their star-studded attack capable of ripping teams apart if allowed to run unchecked. A draw would not be the worst result for Arsenal, although they would then be reliant on City dropping points elsewhere on the run-in. The Gunners are undoubtedly capable of going to the Etihad and winning, but City’s form in recent weeks suggests they will emerge victorious on Wednesday.
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