Manchester City’s supporter base often projects an image of being “not really here”. However, as the football club inches closer to an unprecedented accomplishment, a repeated mantra from the club’s manager Pep Guardiola offers a level of understanding, even awe.
“We are there”, has been a common refrain from Guardiola during this season and the ones that preceded it, as his team persist in their relentless pursuit of the Premier League championship. Guardiola often preaches the importance of consistent challenging competition as the ultimate reflection of his team’s prowess, demanding it to be recognised.
Yet, many dispute this philosophy. For a club like Manchester City, who have invested heavily in their squad, the expectation is not just participation, but success. Under Guardiola, City have secured 16 trophies, an impressive accolade. However, it is the potential next one that could truly cement their legacy. No English league football club, in its 135-year history, has ever claimed four back-to-back top-class championships. If City can resist Arsenal’s challenge in the upcoming match, they will shatter a seemingly unattainable record.
Arsenal has demonstrated formidable opposition, demonstrating tenacity even without the anticipation of a Manchester misstep. Heading into their final game against Everton at the Emirates, despite trailing two points behind City, they understand the task at hand and the immense narrative that could unfold with a triumph.
Many neutral spectators are hoping for this outcome, perhaps a testament to the overwhelming power of City’s reign as much as the impressive transformation catalysed by Arsenal’s coach Mikel Arteta since his appointment in December 2019 when the club was in a slump.
Last season, Arsenal closely tailed City, but this current season, they’ve exerted even more pressure right up to the final games. The statistics speak volumes. If Arsenal triumphs over Everton, they secure 89 points; only once before has the team collected more in the Premier League during the famous 2003-04 ‘Invincibles’ season. Setting new records for goals (89) and victories (27), Arteta’s squad has revitalised this Premier League season.
Arteta’s era has been marked by shrewd player acquisition, with standout performances seen last summer from recruits such as David Raya, Declan Rice, and Kai Havertz. There was controversy when Arteta criticised the video assistant referee following Arsenal’s 1-0 loss to Newcastle in November, an outburst not welcomed by all. The club, however, issued a statement backing him, indicating a unified stance from the top down. As highlighted by the electric atmosphere at the Emirates, the bond between the team and its fans is stronger than ever since the stadium opened in 2006.
While Manchester City carry an unquestionable fortitude, Arsenal has also made substantial progress in this aspect. On the cusp of the City match at the end of March, Rice termed it as a “new Arsenal”, insinuating a readiness to shift public perception – a sentiment echoed by many. In spite of the potential backlash, Rice’s words, supported by the club’s media team, revealed a unified will to control the narrative and the game as well. Having the players express themselves in press interviews before key matches, an approach not employed previously, has proven to be empowering. Arsenal’s goalless draw at the Etihad confirmed this new-found strength.
Manchester City, on the other hand, faced genuine risk this season, particularly in Guardiola’s perspective. After the treble victory last season, he was apprehensive of a subsequent slump. This fear was intensified by Kevin De Bruyne’s five-month absence due to a hamstring injury sustained in the opening league match against Burnley. With Erling Haaland also suffering a two-month foot injury from early December, Guardiola admitted that the Norwegian striker was perhaps “not at his best”. City have faltered against the top six, with their record sitting at two wins, six draws, and two losses. Dark days have seen them endure successive defeats against Wolves and Arsenal, just after an early Carabao Cup exit at Newcastle.
In their 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace in mid-December, which occurred at home, they relinquished their two-goal advantage just ahead of their departure to Saudi Arabia for the Club World Cup. With Rodri serving another suspension earlier that month, they experienced a 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa’s hands. This came after they succumbed to last-minute equalizing goals in their three preceding league contests against Chelsea, Liverpool, and Spurs. However, it does not appear to be any significant tension within Man City’s ranks. Despite Haaland failing to replicate his outstanding 52 goals from 53 appearances across all tournaments during the prior season, he’s still managed a commendable 38 in 43, with 27 coming from league games – practically assuring him of another Golden Boot award.
The team has demonstrated their mettle, prompting envious opponents (excluding those addressing the 115 accusations) to complain that things have run too smoothly and flawlessly, suggesting it’s trivialised and rendered the process uninteresting. As the criticisms amount to saying, ‘City are playing too well, it’s unjust, we’d like to take our ball and return home’, it’s an indication that City are dominating and enjoying every moment.
Inquired during the week whether the squad he’s coaching is mentally more robust, Guardiola responded affirmatively, comparing them to his previous teams at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, highlighting their resilience and humility, believing they’re never quite done. Guardiola has been instrumental in cultivating this relentless pursuit of victory and has instilled his fervent desire for success in players. The likes of Ederson, Kyle Walker, John Stones, Bernardo Silva and De Bruyne – who were all part of his initial Man City title-winning side in 2017-18, can testify, and so can Phil Foden, who made his senior team debut as a 17-year-old that year. Not to forget Rodri, who is only seven games away from equalling Arsenal’s Sol Campbell’s record, having remained undefeated in 49 Premier League fixtures.
As Arsenal looks back on their season, they may find their week-long recuperation period in Dubai at the start of January to be a significant turning point. In the lead up to this break, the club had only claimed four from a possible 15 points and was kicked out of the FA Cup by Liverpool. Their performance significantly improved after their hiatus, as evident from their league record: W15 D1 L1.
However, regardless of other clubs’ actions, City usually manages to go one step ahead. Their participation in the Club World Cup was timely. Their league record after returning from the Middle East was brilliant: W17 D3 L0.
Observers who regularly follow City see that, after winning the Champions League last season, some pressure has been lifted off Guardiola. For example, the coach seems more relaxed in media appearances. Notably, he also showed renewed enthusiasm after Jurgen Klopp announced his departure from Liverpool at the end of this season in late January.
Guardiola has not only outstripped Liverpool’s challenge for the title. He’s also shrugged off his greatest rival. He continues his strong run, much like the relentless pursuit Klopp is renowned for. However, there seems to be a promising sign for Arsenal. The last team to seize the title while not being at the top on the final day was Arsenal in the 1988-89 season, where they triumphed over Liverpool at Anfield. Nonetheless, the situation differs this time. Only City holds their fate in their hands, just as Guardiola likes it. -Guardian