{"id":16527,"date":"2026-04-12T23:57:13","date_gmt":"2026-04-12T23:57:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fishfmonline.com\/?p=16527"},"modified":"2026-04-12T23:57:13","modified_gmt":"2026-04-12T23:57:13","slug":"man-city-smell-blood-why-arsenal-should-fear-title-rivals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fishfmonline.com\/?p=16527","title":{"rendered":"Man City smell blood – why Arsenal should fear title rivals"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The carrot was dangled in front of\u00a0<\/b>Manchester City<\/b><\/a>\u00a0– how would they react to\u00a0<\/b>Arsenal<\/b><\/a>‘s shock loss on Saturday?<\/b><\/p>\n

That question was emphatically answered by Pep Guardiola’s men on Sunday – with a statement\u00a03-0 win at Chelsea<\/a>\u00a0which blew the Premier League title race wide open.<\/p>\n

While\u00a0Arsenal<\/a>\u00a0are faltering, City are growing in strength and, after moving within six points of the leaders with a game in hand, the signs are looking ominous for the red side of north London.<\/p>\n

City’s cheers would have been heard all the way from west London – and the ferocity with which Guardiola, his players and the travelling fans celebrated showed how important a victory this was.<\/p>\n

Arsenal<\/a>\u00a0have a Champions League tie to contend with on Wednesday, but City’s attention will now fully turn to next Sunday’s meeting against Mikel Arteta’s side with the tantalising prospect of further reducing the deficit.<\/p>\n

City have hit form in the past three games, scoring nine goals against\u00a0Arsenal<\/a>,\u00a0Liverpool<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Chelsea<\/a>\u00a0without conceding, claiming the Carabao Cup and reaching the FA Cup semi-finals during that period.<\/p>\n

“We have done a good three games, but the best team in England is\u00a0Arsenal<\/a>\u00a0and the best team in Europe is\u00a0Arsenal<\/a>,” said Guardiola.<\/p>\n

“The numbers are there with the consistency they had. We will prepare well this week.<\/p>\n

“We will adjust from the Carabao Cup final and what we have to do with our people to perform well. What defines the teams is how you play.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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City – and Arsenal – have been here before<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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“Are you watching\u00a0Arsenal<\/a>?” was the chant echoing around Stamford Bridge from the City supporters.<\/p>\n

If they were, it was from behind their sofas and between their fingers knowing City’s juggernaut is starting to purr into gear as they swept aside hapless\u00a0Chelsea<\/a>\u00a0in the second half.<\/p>\n

The statistics show April is Guardiola’s most fruitful month and Arteta’s worst – and the results from the two title rivals this weekend backed that up.<\/p>\n

City have been the hunters before and are comfortable in that role – as\u00a0Arsenal<\/a>\u00a0only know too well.<\/p>\n

In 2022-23, the Gunners became the team to spend the most days (248) top of the Premier League without winning it.<\/p>\n

They were five points clear after 32 games played that season, but City, with two games in hand, reeled them in.<\/p>\n

Guardiola – and Arteta – have been here before.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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