As the Premier League season approaches its finale, April might be the defining month for leaders Arsenal and closest challengers Manchester City.
Mikel Arteta’s males are aiming for the membership’s first league title since 2004 – and with a nine-point lead and seven video games remaining, have destiny in their very own fingers.
Second-placed City, although, need to push all of them the way in which and have a sport in hand and expertise of getting over the road on this decisive interval.
Pep Guardiola’s facet, trying to claw again the deficit, can enhance the strain after they host the leaders in a monumental fixture at Etihad Stadium on Sunday, 19 April. And current historical past exhibits that is the month the place City excel and Arsenal flounder.
“We need to get a lot of points,” stated Guardiola. “We have not been consistent enough in the season. We have dropped points that we should have taken, which is why we are now in the position where we cannot do it differently.
“We must win each single sport.”
Arteta will be desperate to triumph come May, having won only the FA Cup and the Community Shield since taking charge in 2019. Like City, his side have drawn seven games, but they have suffered two fewer defeats.
Arsenal can additional prolong their lead when internet hosting Bournemouth in Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off, earlier than City face a tough journey to sixth-placed Chelsea on Sunday.
“The nearer we get, the relevance and significance of the match will increase,” admitted Arteta, whose side have finished runners-up for the past three seasons.
“[Saturday] is a giant day for us. The gamers understand it, the supporters understand it.
“It is a 12:30 kick-off, an early kick-off, so get up early, have an early breakfast, bring your lunch and let’s go all together for it because it has to be a big day.”
