1 year ago
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The Premier League rubric contention is shaping up to beryllium an breathtaking run-in aft leaders Arsenal and second-placed Manchester City's latest distant victories.
Arsenal tin widen their pb implicit City to 5 points if they bushed Everton astatine Emirates Stadium successful their adjacent outing connected Wednesday, 1 March, aft which some rubric contenders volition person played 25 games.
City's Rico Lewis said the triumph astatine Bournemouth - their 200th distant triumph successful the Premier League - "sends a message" to the league leaders, and with the play astir two-thirds over, matters are intriguingly poised.
Arsenal 'have title-winning credentials'
Late January and aboriginal February saw the Gunners endure a four-game winless tally bookended by defeats by City, archetypal successful the FA Cup and past successful the league.
They besides dropped points successful a 1-0 decision by Everton and a 1-1 gully with Brentford, but wins connected the roadworthy astatine Aston Villa and Leicester person ensured Mikel Arteta stays conscionable up of his one-time mentor Pep Guardiola.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta told BBC Match of the Day: "I americium truly pleased with the performance. We dominated the game, we attacked a lot, we were precocious up the transportation but we didn't negociate to make capable large opportunities.
"To triumph distant astatine Villa, past astatine Leicester, successful the Premier League is highly hard to bash and we deserved to triumph some games."
Former City defender Nedum Onuoha believes Arsenal inactive clasp the precocious manus contempt his aged nine precocious inflicting Arsenal's 3rd league decision of the season.
"A fewer questions were being asked of them, radical were backing Man City," helium told the BBC. "For them to come backmost against Villa was a immense boost. The celebrations showed what it meant - it steadied the ship. It feels similar Arsenal are backmost successful full power of the rubric contention due to the fact that if they triumph their crippled successful manus it would beryllium 5 points wide and that is simply a large advantage."
Glenn Murray, erstwhile Crystal Palace and Brighton striker, thinks portion some teams are inactive progressive successful European competition, Arsenal's tendency for a archetypal rubric since 2003-04 volition beryllium their focus.
"There volition beryllium twists and turns successful the rubric race. It is astir who volition clasp their nerve," helium said. "City whitethorn instrumentality their eyes disconnected the ball, Arsenal volition prioritise the Premier League, but Manchester City evidently truly privation the Champions League. It is going to beryllium an highly breathtaking watch."
Arsenal's resurgence pursuing the wobble that included the decision by City has impressed erstwhile Swansea and Wales defender Ashley Williams.
"You're ever going to person setbacks, and I deliberation they've shown a capableness to flooded adversity," helium said.
"Arteta is truthful driven and you tin spot that starting to travel retired now. Over the people of the season, if you're going to triumph the Premier League, you request to woody with the bully and the bad. They are showing they've got the credentials to get it done successful the end."
Imperious City staying connected Arsenal's coat-tails
City's 3-1 triumph astatine Arsenal sent them backmost to the apical of the Premier League table, but a disappointing gully astatine Nottingham Forest 3 days aboriginal coupled with the Gunners' triumph astatine Aston Villa saw Guardiola gaffe down his erstwhile Manchester City adjunct Arteta.
One origin that could plaything the rubric contention successful City's favour is the prolific signifier of Erling Haaland. The Norway striker scored his 27th league extremity of the play against Bournemouth, taking him past Sergio Aguero's grounds for astir Premier League goals successful a play for City.
"Erling Haaland, his interaction has been incredible," said Guardiola. "We emotion him and helium is helping us. Today we recovered him much and helium is an unthinkable threat.
"We are inactive going to beryllium warring for the Premier League and we person a pugnacious contender [in Arsenal], but galore things could happen."
City defender Lewis told Sky Sports: "The champion happening to bash to travel backmost from a fewer mediocre results is to win. We are gutted not to get a cleanable expanse but it sends retired a message. The aboriginal extremity acceptable the code and we could person had much successful the end."
But the Blues' comfy triumph impressed erstwhile Bournemouth manager Tony Pulis, who told BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra: "A precise broad show from Manchester City. They could person turned up and been sloppy but they were fabulous."
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