Arsenal-City title race the most exciting Premier League title race since Fergie-Wenger days

MANCHESTER City’s win over Arsenal last week was described as a turning point in the 2022/23 Premier League title race. The same was said of Arsenal’s 4-2 win over Aston Villa just a few days later which came just a few hours before City dropped points to Nottingham Forest. This isn’t so much a title race as two rivals tripping over each other to reach the finish line first.

This, however, is how Premier League title races used to be. In recent times, Liverpool and Manchester City set such a high standard that roughly 100 points were needed to lift the trophy. Title races became a sprint to the finish – see how Liverpool won nine matches in a row to finish the 2018/19 season on 97 points and still didn’t finish above City.

The standard might never have been higher, but City and Liverpool never produced a classic title race. Instead, fans often reminisce about the rivalry between Arsenal and Manchester United, when their Premier League campaigns would take countless twists and turns over the course of the season.

Take United’s historic Treble-winning season of 1998/99. As good as Sir Alex Ferguson’s team was, they dropped points no fewer than four times in their final eight Premier League fixtures of the season. Even in Arsenal’s ‘Invincibles’ season of 2003/04, they finished with three draws in five games.

Arsenal and Manchester City are currently producing the most exciting Premier League title race since the days of Ferguson and Arsene Wenger. They might not be playing at the same level of recent title winners, but that’s why it’s so compelling – the intrigue is in the flaws Arsenal and City have as contenders.

Arsenal will end the weekend top of the Premier League, with a two point lead over Manchester City and a game in hand.

This season will kill me. pic.twitter.com/Bl2IKQedQW

— gunnerblog (@gunnerblog) February 18, 2023

City’s summer signing of Erling Haaland gave them a sharper cutting edge in front of goal, but Pep Guardiola hasn’t yet adapted his system to make up for the Norwegian’s lack of influence in possession play. Out of possession, there are also questions about Haaland’s ability to press from the front.

The consequence is that Manchester City are now easier to play through, as demonstrated by Nottingham Forest’s equaliser against them on Saturday. City are vulnerable to opponents playing in quick transition and that is linked to the addition of Haaland. They aren’t as well balanced as they were last season.

Until recently, Arsenal were on course to run away with the Premier League title. They reached 50 points quicker than in any other Premier League season and had the look of champions-elect. Recently, though, opponents have figured out how to frustrate the Gunners with a low defensive block – see Everton and Brentford.

Manchester United could also join the race as a flawed contender with Erik Ten Hag’s team building momentum with recent wins over Leeds United and Leicester City. Their weaknesses are clear with Ten Hag in only his first season of a rebuild, but the form of players such as Marcus Rashford and Casemiro have pushed United into contention. This season has presented them with an unexpected opportunity.

In recent seasons, the likelihood of many twists and turns was slim. Certain fixtures were circled on the calendar to predict where the title race could be won and lost. This season, though, almost every match played by Arsenal and City (and potentially United) presents a hurdle.

Entertainment is subjective, but this season’s title race has already produced more moments that will live longer in the memory than anything served up between City and Liverpool of late, and there’s still three months of the campaign to play. There will be many more weekends like last weekend.