One Manchester City defender has revealed his concerns about the threat that Arsenal pose to Pep Guardiola’s Premier League dominance.
Arsenal kept pace with Manchester City until the bitter end in the Premier League this season.
The Gunners were still in with a shout of being crowned champions on the final day of the campaign, and did their job by beating Everton at the Emirates Stadium. However, Manchester City were able to overcome West Ham United and therefore retained the Premier League title for the fourth successive season.
That is now two campaigns in a row that the North London club have finished as runners up to Pep Guardiola’s side. Arsenal are closing the gap though.
Arsenal have made progress year-on-year under the guidance of Mikel Arteta. Last season, Manchester City pipped the Gunners to the title with games to spare, but it went right down to the wire on this occasion.
Arsenal also made club history this season, as they recorded 28 Premier League wins in a single campaign for the very first time.
There was, of course, a sense of disappointment at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, as the Gunners’ title dream did not come true. However, Arteta promised the assembled Arsenal fans that silverware is on its way.
Kyle Walker admits that Manchester City fear Arsenal threat
Manchester City have a been a dominant, all-conquering force in English football in recent years. They will not be expecting Arsenal to go away next season though, so will be gearing up for another scrap to defend their crown.
Cityzens right-back Kyle Walker has now discussed the threat that Arsenal pose. Speaking to Sky Sports, the England star said: “I think what the manager [Pep Guardiola] said after the interview on Sky the other day when he said, we’ve got the message and we hear it loud and clear and for him to say that, he knows Arsenal are on our heels now.
“Either we need to up our game a little more or Arsenal need to fall off a little bit but the gap’s getting closer each year, it’s getting closer and we need to probably extend that gap to give ourselves a little bit of breathing space.
“But that’s down to the manager, the club, the organisation…whatever they want to do to make sure that we extend that gap would be much appreciated…So, Pep, please help.”
Arsenal and Mikel Arteta must maintain hunger to overcome Pep Guardiola
It would be safe to say that Manchester City are taking the North Londoners seriously.
However, Arsenal cannot afford to take a third successive title challenge for granted next season. The task Arteta now faces is maintaining determination, hunger, and belief in the dressing room after back-to-back disappointments.
It will give the Gunners a boost to know that they’ve got Guardiola worried, though. No reign of supremacy can last forever, and perhaps Manchester City are on the cusp of being toppled from their perch at long last.