The Premier League title race is set to go down to the wire!
Leaders Arsenal, who just a few weeks ago were touted as favourites for their first league title since 2004, now find themselves on the backfoot after a 2-2 draw with West Ham.
It was a game the Gunners should have won comfortably. Instead, they squandered a two-goal lead and missed a penalty.
It was the second match in a row Mikel Arteta’s side has let a two-goal advantage slip, having also settled for a 2-2 draw with Liverpool last week.
They now lie just four points ahead of second-placed Man City – who have a game in hand.
In-form City catching up
The Citizens are currently in the form of their lives, going on a run of six straight league victories. A major factor behind this is Erling Haaland’s prolific performances, with the Norwegian currently on 32 Premier League goals this season.
City also have a superior goal difference in the title run-in - at 50 compared to the Gunners’ 43.
But most ominous is Pep Guardiola’s side’s knack of getting results at this late stage of the competition. One could almost say they thrive on leaving it late for a title push.
Epic at the Etihad?
With things as tight as they are, this season’s title race could very well be decided when City host Arsenal on the morning of April 27th.
Guardiola’s boys can take heart that Arsenal’s last top flight win at the Etihad was all the way back in January 2015.
But there is one thing that could potentially work in the Gunners’ favour – the fixture list.
While Arsenal have only the league to focus on, City are also in contention for the FA Cup and Champions League titles.
Before their clash at the Etihad, City have an away trip to Bayern Munich and an FA Cup semis clash with Sheffield United.
Victory in these two competitions will only add to their congested schedule heading into the most crucial part of the campaign.
Arsenal, on the other hand, just need to focus on their remaining seven EPL games.
For the record, Arsenal have remaining league fixtures against Southampton, City, Chelsea, Newcastle, Brighton, Nottingham Forest and Wolves.
Man City, meanwhile, will have to face Arsenal, Brighton, Fulham, West Ham, Leeds, Everton, Chelsea and Brentford.
