It was an experience of realisation, worry and admiration as Arsenal and their supporters watched on as their Premier League title rivals took apart a shaky Bayern Munich side. The Champions League quarter-finals was a stage that the Gunners will have wanted to see the Citizens progress through in order to further congest their schedule but the display was one of a side hardly bothered by how many games they’ll play.
Arsenal are out of European action and could benefit this week with their weekend's opponents West Ham United in Belgium on Thursday to take on Gent in the UEFA Europa Conference League. However, City’s win against the German champions highlights both the challenge facing the Gunners and the achievement they have already reached by keeping them at bay.
The six-point lead is predicated on a Man City game-in-hand against West Ham and the north-western club will miss another weekend’s league action when they face Sheffield United in the FA Cup semi-final. Meaning their away trip to Brighton will need rescheduling too.
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The obvious difference between Arsenal and Man City is the depth the two sides have. Should Arsenal lose a starter in almost any position and there’s worry in how the replacement might fair.
Last night, Pep Guardiola made one change to face Bayern with Bernardo Silva coming in for Riyad Mahrez. But he could have made even more with Julian Alvarez, Aymeric Laporte, Kalvin Phillips and Kyle Walker all available on the bench.
In the absence of William Saliba, Rob Holding has done a decent job despite giving away a penalty at Anfield. However, the club are still yearning for the Frenchman to return swiftly and in time for the trip to the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, April 26.
Man City will now host Leicester City who are newly coached by interim-boss Dean Smith. Arsenal will be hoping for something of a new manager bounce from the Foxes as they travel to east London.
Winning the next two games against the Hammers and at home to Southampton will be critical in ensuring momentum going into the potential title-deciding clash. Regardless, last night’s showing by City cannot be ignored and just highlights how well Mikel Arteta and his side have done to remain at the head of the Premier League table for so long.
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