Graeme Souness has told Mikel Arteta how Arsenal can still win the 2023/24 Premier League title even if the Gunners suffer a defeat away to Manchester City this Sunday.
The north London giants hit the road to Etihad Stadium as the team atop the top-flight table after 28 games. But Arsenal have not won a Premier League match at Manchester City since January 2015. Arteta is also facing a handful of injury concerns ahead of this Sunday’s game.
Suffering another defeat away to Manchester City could drop Arsenal from first to third, too, with one point separating them. Liverpool are only in second place on goal difference to the Gunners ahead of facing Brighton on Sunday. So, the momentum may go away from Arsenal.
Arsenal have a tough 2023/24 Premier League title run-in
Arteta may fear the momentum swing favouring Liverpool and Manchester City with Arsenal facing a tough run-in. Along with their trip to Etihad Stadium, the Gunners still have matches against Brighton, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United to come this term.
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It was also during the run-in that the wheels fell off Arsenal’s title bid last season. The north London natives only won four of their final 10 games in 2022/23. They ultimately ended the season five points adrift of Manchester City, who took a 4-1 win at home to Arsenal in April.
Souness pleads for a change if Arsenal lose at Manchester City
Defeat at Etihad Stadium in April capped the first of two spells that cost Arsenal the Premier League title. The Gunners failed to see out a 2-0 lead at Liverpool to draw 2-2, drew 2-2 with West Ham after leading 2-0 and salvaged a 3-3 draw with Southampton in the 90th minute.
Arsenal even lost 3-0 to Brighton and 1-0 at Nottingham Forest after wins over Chelsea and Newcastle to crown Manchester City as champions. Now, Souness pleads to see a change in how Arsenal react to a setback if they lose on Sunday if Arteta is to still win the 2023/24 title.
Souness has told the Daily Mail: “I see a stronger Arsenal now and, although nothing will be decided this weekend, I can’t overstate how big for them a victory at City would be.
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“Not just because it puts them in a very strong position with their goal difference, but because it would make so many people see Arsenal in a totally different light, after the accusations last year that they’d bottled it.
“How can Arsenal go one better this time? By also having that attitude and that confidence where if they slip up, it’s not the end of the world. Every slip-up last year seemed to compound things.”