Arsenal can do Man City one last favour in the Premier League title race to provide treble boost
Manchester City’s anticipated triumph in the Premier League has seen Arsenal emerge as strong contenders. While teams like Manchester United and Liverpool have come close to challenging City, they have ultimately fallen short when faced with City’s unbeatable winning streak.
In the first half of the season, Arsenal accumulated an impressive 50 points, which would have matched City’s remarkable achievement if they had maintained that pace
However, City’s resurgence in form during the second half of the campaign, earning 43 points with three games remaining, has showcased their ability to excel when it truly matters.
Meanwhile, Arsenal’s performance has dwindled, and they seemed resigned to their fate after a defeat to Brighton last weekend.
With Manchester City’s recent victory over Everton and Arsenal’s loss to Brighton, City’s path to securing their third consecutive Premier League title is nearly assured. A win against Chelsea on Sunday would seal the deal.
However, if Arsenal manages a draw against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, City would only need to match that result to claim the title. Should Arsenal suffer another defeat, City would be crowned champions without even playing another match.
Nottingham Forest previously managed to snatch a point from City in a match where City dominated, back in February.
This was also the last time City failed to win in the Premier League. If Steve Cooper’s side can defeat Arsenal in the Saturday evening kick-off, City fans will likely forgive Nottingham Forest for that earlier result, as it would greatly contribute to City’s title aspirations.
If Manchester City secures the Premier League title by the end of their match against Chelsea on Sunday, they will lift the trophy at the Etihad Stadium regardless of the path they took to achieve it.
Considering their status as favorites, they are expected to defeat Frank Lampard’s team, despite the squad’s high cost and lack of coherence. Despite the recent exhilaration of reaching the Champions League final, it is anticipated that Pep Guardiola will field a strong lineup if they still require points to secure the title.
However, if Arsenal loses at the City Ground on Saturday, Guardiola can begin to shift his focus and consider adjusting his priorities. With the Premier League title already secured, the first step of their treble aspirations would be accomplished.
The remaining three league games within the following week, beginning with the match against Chelsea, would present an opportunity to rest fatigued players, experiment with different tactical systems if necessary, and provide playing time to fringe players.
Guardiola would highly value the opportunity to rest and rotate the squad with three games remaining before the FA Cup final and the Champions League final, as it would significantly enhance their chances of achieving the treble.
However, it is crucial to maintain momentum. Approaching the FA Cup final with a 26-game unbeaten streak and 14 consecutive league wins would provide a tremendous psychological boost.
The week of preparation for the cup final, followed by another week before the Champions League final in Istanbul, allows for ample rest to rejuvenate tired players. Having an additional week, despite having three games to play, ensures that City enters the second and third stages of their treble pursuit in optimal physical condition.
Even if Manchester City fails to secure the Premier League title this weekend, they know that a single victory in their next three matches will be sufficient. This would allow them to rest players against Brentford on the final day.
However, for the greatest opportunity to rest key players, a favorable result from Nottingham Forest against Arsenal would provide a tremendous boost to their chances of achieving the treble.
Arsenal can do Man City one last favour in the Premier League title race to provide treble boost
