Manchester and north London derbies add intrigue for title race
Arsenal and Manchester City are now set up for a straight shootout for the English Premier League title. That scenario will only become more likely if they win this weekend’s derby matches.
Don’t be so sure on that happening, though.
In fact, Sunday night saw five teams in the title race. This could have easily led to five more teams entering the second half.
First up is the Manchester derby on Saturday, when City — looking increasingly unconvincing as the season progresses — faces a Manchester United team riding its best run of results in four years.
Eight wins in a row in all competitions. Nine straight victories at Old Trafford. Unified, no longer burdened by the baggage of having Cristiano Ronaldo Under Erik ten Hag, the squad is buoyant and ready to make amends. embarrassing 6-3 loss to City In October,
Closing the round of weekend games is the north London derby on Sunday when Arsenal — five points clear of second-placed City — heads to fifth-placed Tottenham, for whom in-form striker Harry Kane has another scoring record in his sights.
Kane has netted four times in four games since returning from the World Cup and needs one goal to tie with the late Jimmy Greaves as Tottenham’s leading scorer on 266. Kane’s 14 goals have been the most in the derby. Kane has scored more against Arsenal than any other player since 1992, when the Premier League was established.
If Arsenal and City win, they’ll leave United and Tottenham in their wake, with only third-placed Newcastle — which hosts Fulham on Sunday — in touching distance.
They would lose and the top five would be suddenly separated by eight points.
City, based on their current form, is the team that should cause most concern.
City seemed to be back on track after two wins over Chelsea last Wednesday in the league and the FA Cup. However, a loss to Southampton in the League Cup on Wednesday not only ended the team’s hunt for a quadruple of trophies but raised questions about the strength in depth of Pep Guardiola’s squad in certain areas.
City has dropped points in two of its last four league games — both at home, in a 2-1 loss to Brentford and a 1-1 draw with Everton — and, currently, does not look like the machine that can go on a long winning run to take control of a title race, as Guardiola’s teams have done in the past.
Worryingly, a frail-looking City didn’t even have a shot on target against Southampton, despite sending on Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland in the second half.
Ilkay Gundogan, City’s midfielder, stated that their self-belief has taken a beating.
“This United side is probably stronger than ever, at least in the recent past,” Gundogan said, “so they are full of confidence, will play great football and we’ll need a much better performance than (against Southampton).”
No Man United manager has reached 20 victories at the club quicker than Ten Hag — he has achieved it in 27 games — but the recent winning run should be put into context given the opponents United has faced, including two lower-league teams in the cups and four of the current bottom six in the Premier League.
City is a significant step up in quality. However, fourth-placed United has already defeated Arsenal, Liverpool, and Tottenham at home.
In fact, Arsenal’s only defeat in the league is this one. This was Arsenal’s fifth-best Premier League start in 17 games.
Losing Gabriel Jesus to a knee injury Arsenal hasn’t been slowed down by this, especially with Martin Odegaard (captain and playmaker) in great form. As it stands, Odegaard and Haaland — two Norwegians — might be leading the race to be the league player of the season.
Tottenham won the three previous north London derbies at its stadium, but lost to Aston Villa on January 1.
Arsenal could lose points, which would be even more concerning considering that Arsenal is playing at home to United in its next league game.
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