The second half of the 2023–24 Premier League season begins this weekend. This is the time to discern between title contenders and title pretenders. Last season, judging the title race by how things appeared in the first half of the season would have resulted in inaccurate predictions.
Midway through last season, Arsenal, who led the league standings, had developed a significant lead over second-placed Manchester City; however, they ended up not winning the title, with the Citizens pulling off a dominant run in the second part of the season to win it by a 5-point margin.
The Gunners, like last season, want to win the league title, and it goes without saying that they must replicate Manchester City’s run in the second part of last season if they did learn something from that failed title run.
Yes, they sit 5 points behind league leaders Liverpool, 2 points behind Villa, and have the same number of points (40) as Manchester City, although they have played one fewer game, but nothing is decided yet in the title race.
Though Villa should not be underestimated, I believe Liverpool and Manchester City remain Arsenal’s major title rivals.
With a 2-0 win over Arsenal in the FA Cup, Liverpool has already warned Arsenal that they are the real deal.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola recently stated that his team knows what they need to do in the title fight: “In the Premier League, we have one game in hand. We have a big rival; Liverpool is back; Arsenal; many good teams are there; Tottenham; it’s important to be there. But in the same time, we know we can’t drop points much, or it will be difficult.”
If Arsenal is to win the Premier League this season, they must battle hard and not drop points, like Guardiola warns his team not to.
This point of the season is so vital that Arteta and the boys must miraculously ditch their poor form and start firing on all cylinders as soon as they take to the field.
Daniel O
NO MORE WINS! – Here is the latest DUBLIN ARSENAL video featuring OZZY, EAMONN, CRAIG and Jonathan look back at another 2-0 loss this time to Liverpool in the Fa cup
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At this point in the season the consensus (other than Gooners of course) was still that MC would overtake us and “they” were correct. It’s not even close to it just being us and MC this time. Pep isn’t just playing mind games with this one.
We just have to hope for the best and keep fighting. COYG.
Pep Guardiola seems pretty comfortable in the league, I assume he hasn’t lost a minute sleep over the title fight.
Am not worried about the rest. Am worried about us. If we get a Toney/Vlahovic striker, a versatile fullback, possibly a DM and a Neto-like signing to keep Saka on his toes, we will win the league or the UCL.
Guardiola is far too smart to ever publicly dismiss the chances of any of his main rivals.
But privately only, he must surely be VERY confident of now winning his fourth Premier title in a row. He PROBABLY DOES fear Liverpool, but though he wil never say so, I reckon he knows Arsenal are not serious rivals this time.
Not now that he and we can see all the obvious holes still in our squad, especially when compared to his own phenomenal squad.
I can think of only one obvious incoming transfer mistake Pep has made and that is Phillips. But unlike MA, he will be ousting Phillips this window We have held onto complete duds like Elneny ,Soares and several others for up to seven wasted years, in Elnenys case.
THAT is WHY Pep wont be fearing us at all.
And he is, sadly, quite right not to.
We have to do better in the London derbies during this second half of the season Last season we did well against London teams before we got pegged back later on How high we climb this time will be contingent on our Derbie games and our away form if you ask me Finishing somewhere in the top three I would bet at this stage but football can be surprising at times so we’ll get behind the boys and wait and see