Has Pep Guardiola subtly put pressure on Arsenal ahead of Sunday’s huge match? | OneFootball

Manchester City take on Arsenal on Sunday at the Etihad Stadium. The match is a huge fixture that sees the Premier League leaders in Arsenal take on their closest title rivals in City. City sit six points behind Arsenal on the Premier League table, with a game in hand, and it seems like this season’s title race could hinge on Sunday’s result. Ahead of Sunday’s huge match, Pep Guardiola has pointed out a situation that Arsenal are contending with in the title race that City aren’t facing. It does seem that subtly, Pep Guardiola has placed pressure onto Arsenal heading into Sunday’s top-of-the-table Premier League clash.

Pep Guardiola has made a point of singling out how long it has been since Arsenal have won the Premier League.

Speaking during his pre-game press conference ahead of Manchester City’s huge Premier League fixture against Arsenal, Pep Guardiola pointed out that Arsenal haven’t won the Premier League in 22 years. The Manchester City manager said that this is an element of this season’s title race that his team cannot contend with. He explained: “I enjoy watching them (Arsenal), I learn a lot for many things and what people want is to win. We fight an aspect that is really important that we cannot fight against – that is 22 years without winning the Premier League. We cannot fight that aspect, they have something that is unique.”

There is pressure on both teams entering Sunday’s match, but the weight of history is on Arsenal’s shoulders.

The ramifications in Sunday’s top-of-the-table Premier League clash between Manchester City and Arsenal are huge for both teams. A win for Arsenal or a draw will see Mikel Arteta’s side maintain control of their destiny in this season’s Premier League title race. If City can beat Arsenal, they’ll move within three points of the Gunners at the top of the Premier League table, with a game in hand on Arsenal and with real momentum behind their title charge. Both teams know what is at stake at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

However, as Pep Guardiola has pointed out, Arsenal haven’t won the Premier League since the 2003/04 season. Mikel Arteta’s side has also finished second in the league in the past three seasons. It has also seemed that Arsenal are feeling the weight of pressure on their shoulders recently. Their performance in their 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth last weekend was that of a side who seem to be struggling with the weight of closing the deal in a title race and fatigue after a long season. Pep Guardiola seems to have subtly reminded Arsenal of the weight of history that they are looking to change. Whether or not Mikel Arteta’s side can deal with that pressure remains to be seen, but Guardiola hasn’t missed an opportunity to remind Arsenal of the situation they are facing.

Final thoughts.

Pep Guardiola has reminded Arsenal of how long it has been since they won the Premier League title. Whether or not he meant to, it does seem that the Manchester City manager has seemingly ramped up the pressure on Mikel Arteta’s side ahead of Sunday’s match and in the title race. Whether or not Arsenal can handle the pressure in the title race and Sunday’s match is another interesting subplot heading into a massive match and a pivotal stage of the season.