The Premier League title race is not simply a game of tactics and technique now. It’s a battle of nerves. Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, currently six points clear, can hear the thundering hooves of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City thoroughbreds behind them. Tuning in to City’s remarkable late victory at Liverpool on Sunday, they heard Guardiola players’ outpouring of joy and absorbing of confidence.
Arsenal know and respect City. They can see the spine of the formidable barrier of Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal, Ruben Dias and Marc Guéhi at centre back and Rodri commanding in front of them. They see the extraordinary goal machine of Erling Haaland in attack and how City are set up from wide and through the middle to serve the Norwegian. It’s all about Arsenal focusing on themselves, not fearing City. It’s all in the mind now.
