The Premier League title race could be decided this weekend as Manchester City host Arsenal on Sunday.
Pep Guardiola’s side are six points behind the Gunners in the table, but crucially have a game in hand over their rivals which could make all the difference come the end of the campaign.
Ahead of that season-defining clash at the Etihad, The i Paper‘s football writers have a go at predicting who will win the famous trophy…
Daniel Storey – Arsenal
I still think that Arsenal will win the title, but it’s also clear that the emotional heft and criticism over aesthetics is going to make this the most painful watch for supporters if they do it. Which, psychologically, is going to make the next five weeks impossible to process.
Michael Hincks – Man City
Arsenal have been shaky for weeks and will only get nervier as the finish line approaches. There is just one Premier League champion in that squad (Gabriel Jesus) and it shows. Meanwhile at the Etihad this is what they do for fun, and having added Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi in January, not only should they never have been playing catch-up anyway, but at a crucial time they boast that extra quality to complete the chase in style.
Pete Hall – Man City
Pep Guardiola is thirsty. And we know what that usually means for his competitors. On the pitch, the key difference between the two teams is City have players in top form, at the right time. Heroes come in all shapes and sizes, with Rayan Cherki and Nico O’Reilly primed to lead Guardiola to more glory.
Mark Douglas – Man City
I think Manchester City will win on Sunday and go on to win the title. We all know what is coming at the Eithad. The Arsenal bus won’t just be parked in Manchester, it’ll be anchored to the ground with 10 tonne weights. But I think City have the players to unpick them. I don’t think it’s a problem of bottle, it’s an issue of approach. If you rely as much as they have on set pieces and strength, you run the risk of goals drying up. And that’s what has happened.
Matt Butler – Arsenal
What a time to be alive, when Arsenal are six points clear at the top of the table, sullenly set-piecing their way to the title, chased doggedly by an equally joyless, oil-fuelled Manchester City. But only one can win – and I believe that will be Arsenal, for two reasons. They have the easier run-in. And surely Arsenal’s players have learned from the last three title near-misses how to keep their heads. Surely. I reserve the right to change my mind when City beat the Gunners 6-0 on Sunday.
Kat Lucas – Man City
I don’t think this is just a case of Arsenal “bottling” it. There is an injury crisis hitting at just the wrong time, and if they go into many more of their final run-in without Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Jurrien Timber, Riccardo Calafiori or Mikel Merino, they are going to keep struggling to create chances. I also think there is a danger Mikel Arteta is coaching them into too much caution. For much of the season they were conservative but still looked like the best team in the country – you can’t say that anymore.
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Ben Saunders – Man City
Match of the Day’s analysis of Manchester City’s win over Chelsea made the point that the likes of Phil Foden and Antoine Semenyo are working hard in defence for Pep Guardiola. Whereas Arsenal are losing at home to Bournemouth and squeaking past Sporting Lisbon with a manager who is “on fire”.
Final score: Man City 5-2 Arsenal
