Arsenal travel to Man City next weekend and they know that they could drop to 12 points behind the League leaders if they lose so they will have to be on top form to take something away from the game. Arsenal always do best when our fans expect them to lose, and as Arsene Wenger says, the game at the Etihad is “a good opportunity for us to show we have quality”
“It’s normal that people have them as champions-elect because they are on a good run and people always extend these good runs to the end of the season but, at some stage, they have to be stopped,” Wenger said. “It’s true because nobody does that, nobody runs away [with the title]. We can just focus on the game, prepare well and give our best.”
Wenger was asked whether the pressure increased on players from game to game during an unbeaten run. “Yes, but the most difficult pressure is when you don’t win,” Wenger continued. “When you win, OK, you have a kind of pressure but the real pressure in our job is when you don’t win and you have absolutely to win.”
Well Arsenal ‘absolutely’ have to win next week, but what about City? Do they expect to carry on winning every game? Not according to Kevin De Bruyne, who said. “To go unbeaten?, It’s very hard. I don’t think it will be possible. The level of competition is so high, in every team. It’s not like, with all respect, 10 or 15 years ago where you had a couple of teams that wouldn’t be able to win against the top ones.
“Every game is hard and you need to be mentally there. But as long as it keeps going it’s good.”
“We were winning these games like against West Brom last season, we dropped points against the big clubs,”
Well, Arsenal are a ‘big club’ in top form with 10 wins in our last 12 games, and an extremely good draw away at Chelsea, so there is no reason for the Arsenal fans to expect a poor showing at the Etihad. City may be 5 points clear at the tip of the table but weren’t they in the same position at this point last season?
It is time for Man City’s blip and after the Arsenal game there is Manchester United, Spurs and Liverpool coming up in the coming weeks, plus the distraction of Champions League football this week too, so the top of the table will all seem a little bit closer by the New Year….
Come on You Gunners! Onwards and Upwards!
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